Chapter 12 The Christmas Ball

When Harry woke up, it was almost noon. Checking Hermione through the link, and seeing that she was still sleeping, he contacted the Headmaster. He wanted to know about the protections that would be set in the House for the break.

"For now, there is an Anti Apparation ward. We have sent a team of Aurors and there will be also a Council's Member. At this moment, in the House is Mr. Bill Weasley. I'll suggest you to open your link also to him." Explained Dumbledore.

"What will happen after the break?" Asked Harry opening the link to Bill.

"We have decided to put them under the Fidelius Charm." Said Albus in very grave and serious tone of voice.

"Who will be their Keeper?" Asked Harry while he went to take a shower.

"We haven't decided it yet. But it will be surely one of the Council's Members." Said Dumbledore.

"Before I forget, Professor. Don't contact me for the next three nights." Said Harry while the water ran through his body.

"May I ask the reason?" Questioned Dumbledore with confusion on his voice.

"I'll return to my work as DJ the whole weekend." Explained Harry with a little smile.

"No problem, Harry." Chuckled Albus before he added: "Contact at least one of your Godparents. They are having a fit after the attack and your decision of keeping the link closed to almost everyone."

"Hey, I have it open to you, Hermione and the Minister. I'll open to any Council's Member that will be here for the next three days." Defended himself the teen.

"Contact them before your Godmother decides to kill me." Said Dumbledore with a sigh ending the chat with Harry.

"What's up now, Professor?" Asked Harry to his Godmother opening the link to her.

"Finally a word from you! Do you have any idea of the worried that I've been since last night?" Asked almost shouting Minerva very sternly.

"If you are going to shout me, I'll finish this chat right now." Said Harry who was beginning to have a headache.

"How are you?" Asked the Head of Gryffindor calming herself a little.

"My shoulder is a little sore from the battle and also I'm having a little headache. Besides that, I'm ok." Said Harry changing his clothes and going to see Hermione at her room and waking her with a kiss.

"Good morning, Blaze." Said the witch returning the kiss.

"Wait a minute meanwhile I speak with McGonagall and we go to eat together." Said Harry while Hermione got up from her bed.

"I'll take a shower." Said the teen going to the bathroom.

"Do you need something else? I'm hungry and I'm planning to eat some lunch." Said Harry turning his attention to Minerva.

"Contact me when you wake up tomorrow." Said Minerva very seriously.

"I'll do it." Promised Harry before he finished the chat and sat to wait for his girlfriend.

"Everything in order at the Castle?" Asked Hermione when she returned from her shower with new clothes.

"McGonagall and Sirius were having a fit after not having news from me since we left. Bill is here with the Aurors. There will be always a Council's Member with your parents till they go under the Fidelius Charm after the end of the Break. Nothing else." Explained Harry with a serious tone of voice.

"Who will be their Keeper?" Asked Hermione a little worried.

"It hasn't been decided yet. Dumbledore told me that it will be someone from the Council." Explained Harry while both teens went to the lunch.

At the table were Hermione's parents, her Godmother and also Ken and his family. Harry shot Hermione a confused look asking what was going on, but Hermione was as confused as him.

"I see that the sleeping beauties have decided to come down finally!" Teased David when both of them sat down.

"Good morning, dad." Said Hermione to his father. Harry only nodded to everyone.

"Are both of you ok?" Asked Marianne to the couple.

"I have a headache." Said Harry massaging the temples.

"What happened?" Asked Hermione with a confused tone of voice.

"McGonagall." Said Harry simply.

"Did she shout?" Asked Hermione with a chuckle.

"Yes. She thinks that I should reconsider the people that I have the link open to right now." Explained Harry while he began to eat some meal.

"What do you mean with it? Don't you have your link open to everyone?" Asked Hermione confused with his words.

"Nope. I have it open to you, Dumbledore, Mr. Weasley and I'll do it to the Council's Member that is here. In this case, it's Bill." Explained Harry with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Now I understand why she was so angry! You forgot to add her or Snuffles!" Laughed Hermione.

"Hey, I'm on Holidays. The last thing that I need is my Godparents checking me every day!" Said Harry defending himself.

"You are crazy!" Laughed Hermione.

"Crazy, no. Completely insane, my dear Feather." Said Harry with his most innocent smile. Hermione shook her head in amusement.

"Feather?" Asked Angela to her granddaughter curiously.

"It's my nick for the MNG." Explained Hermione.

"Marauders Next Generation." Added Harry seeing the confusion of her family at the word's MNG.

"Why Feather?" Asked curious David.

"Did you finish the training?" Asked Harry to his girlfriend through the link.

"Last week. Although I'm still having some problems to stay in the form for more than five minutes." Answered Hermione.

"You'll do it soon. Don't forget that Magical Creatures are harder than non- magicals." Said Harry with a smile.

"I know." Answered Hermione.

"So?" Asked her parents anxiously.

"My nick is Feather because this." Said Hermione before she transformed herself in a Phoenix. Her feathers were red and gold, although there was some grey too. She sang a few notes before she changed back.

"Are you ok?" Asked Harry worriedly going to her after she began to take deep breaths.

"Yeah, it's still hard." Answered Hermione with a tired smile.

"Try to become a Dragon." Said Harry with a sigh.

Hermione didn't answer. Instead she looked around the table to see her family's reaction. Her parents were shocked, although they had a proud smile. Angela looked at her impressed. Ken didn't show any kind of feeling. Michelle looked shocked also. Her cousins had their jaws opened completely from the shock and didn't look capable to say a word.

"It shocked them!" Laughed Harry watching their reactions.

"What kind of animal is it?" Asked Michelle recovering from her shock.

"A Phoenix." Answered Hermione with a big and proud grin.

"What's yours, Harry?" Asked Marianne to the boy.

"My nick is Blaze because I'm a Dragon. I'll tell you that I won't show it here." Answered Harry with a mysterious grin.

"Interesting!" Said Bill entering in the Hall and going to the teens.

"Hey, Bill!" Greeted Harry.

"Is everything in order?" Asked Hermione.

"I need to speak with Harry. Something about his job of this weekend." Said Bill to his friends. "What job?" Asked Hermione and her relatives with confusion.

"I'll return to the DJ's work for the weekend." Explained Harry before he stood and followed Bill out of the room.

"Can you make me and Fleur enter free tonight?" Asked Bill when both wizards were out in the gardens.

"Sorry, mate. I've asked free passes only to Hermione. I didn't have you in my plans yesterday." Laughed Harry putting his jacket tighter around him.

"Ok, I guess that we'll have to pay." Said the Weasley with a sigh.

"How is everything going on here?" Asked Harry turning very seriously.

"For now, it's in order. I'm not having many problems lately. That is if you ignore Hermione's cousins and her Uncle." Said Bill with a groan.

"Tell me about it!" Exclaimed Harry before he retold him the whole chat that he had with Ken the previous day.

"Stupid gits!" Exclaimed Bill with another groan.

"How is Fleur?" Asked Harry trying to change the subject.

"Very fine. She'll be at the Castle for Christmas. My parents want to have a dinner with all of us. And considering that four are at Hogwarts and that there is a Ball, we decided to spend the Christmas Lunch there." Explained Bill with a smile.

"Do you know how is Gabrielle?" Asked the young wizard remembering about the little sister of Fleur.

"She'll be with her too. She wants to see you." Laughed Bill while Hermione went to join their chat.

"Who wants to see you?" Asked Hermione to her boyfriend.

"Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour will be at Hogwarts for the Christmas lunch." Said Harry kissing her.

"Who is the next one to be here in your replacement?" Asked Hermione to Bill when they finished their kiss.

"I think that Remus." Said Bill after thinking for a few moments.

"I would like to see your cousins' faces if Moody comes here!" Said Harry to Hermione bursting out in laughter the three together.

"Fancy a snow ball fight?" Asked Bill to the teens making a ball with his hands.

"No magic for you!" Shouted Harry while he and Hermione began to make balls and started a fight against the Weasley boy.

When Remus arrived there almost four hours later the three were still in the fight and showed no sign of stopping it soon.

"STOP IT NOW!" Shouted Remus to them.

"Shut up!" Shouted Harry hitting him with a snowball.

Remus waved his wand and a big mass of snow fell over the three soaking them completely. Harry, Hermione and Bill decided that it was a good moment to finish it and went inside to take a hot bath and change their clothes before they caught a cold.

****

That night near the 9.00 p.m. both Harry and Hermione were bathed and changed. They were only waiting for Bill and Fleur so they would go to the Disco.

Harry was wearing a pair of jeans, a grey shirt and a leather jacket that read "Hell's Angels" on the back. As he had explained to his girlfriend, which was the name of the Disco. He had got the jacket during the summer and he had brought it with him in case that he could work there again. Hermione, by her side, was wearing a skirt, a shirt like Harry, though it was red, and a jacket too.

"Hey, guys." Said Bill when he arrived with Fleur. He was wearing jeans and a sweater that Harry and Hermione recognized easily as one of Mrs. Weasley's. Fleur was wearing a long yellow dress.

"Let's go." Said Harry while the four of them began to walk the six blocks from the house to the Disco.

"It's really cold tonight." Said Hermione gritting her teeth through the jacket.

"Don't worry, that place is hot. You will forget easily of this cold." Said Harry when they arrived to their destination.

"Hey, Harry." Said Steve greeting the group.

"Hey, Steve." Said Harry before he introduced their friends: "Steve, these are Fleur, Bill and Hermione. Guys, this is Steve my boss."

"It's nice to meet all of you." Said Steve with a smile to the group who nodded with a smile.

"We'll go to the Cabin. See if you can cover me at some moment of the night." Said Harry to Steve, signaling Hermione to follow him inside.

Both wizards entered and Hermione watched everything carefully, while she followed her boyfriend to his place of work. The Disco was big, on the ceiling there was a big paint of a demon with many devils around him. The seemed to be having a party. Also there were three stairs that went to the VIP zone of the Disco. There were two passages that went to others parts of the Disco.

"That one" Started to explain Harry pointing to the passage that was at their right, "goes to the park that is outside. The other one goes to another place to dance. In both places you listen the same music. And this" said the teen opening a door and inviting her to enter there, "is the Cabin where I work."

In the place there were three different machines that were used to play the music. Near them, there were a few piles of CDs and Cassettes. Hermione checked them and found of different rhythms: Rock, Dance, Techno, Slow songs, and many other ones.

"What are these ones?" Asked Hermione showing a CD that read in the front "Escapes from the Cabin."

"Jimmy used them to go to dance when Steve couldn't come here to cover him for a while. They have many songs of different groups all continued without a stop between song and song." Explained Harry while Joanne entered and gave him a hug.

"You must be Hermione, right?" Asked the woman turning to the teen.

"Yes, I'm her girlfriend." Said Hermione with a smile.

"I'm Joanne, Jimmy's sister." Said Joanne shaking her hand.

"And Steve's fiancee." Added Harry with a laugh.

"Yeah, also that." Said Joanne shooting him a murderous look.

"What's up, Jo?" Asked Harry.

"Don't call me Jo! You know that I hate it!" Said Joanne with a groan.

"That's why I call you like that!" Laughed Harry.

"Your drinks' tickets. Play the rhythm that you want tonight." Said Joanne before she left, putting some tickets near the machines.

"Are you ready for the night?" Asked Harry to Hermione kissing her.

"Always." Said the witch while Harry played the first song, and the Disco began to be filled with people who wanted to get fun that night.

****

For the rest of the night, Harry played different rhythms, although half of them were in the CDs called "Escapes." While those CDs were on the machines, both wizards were dancing in the floor of the Disco.

"Want some drinks? I pay them." Asked Harry to Bill and Hermione through the link.

"Sure." They said and went with Harry to the bar.

"What do you think of the Disco?" Asked Harry to the others while they waited their drinks.

"It's great! I didn't have so much fun since a long time ago!" Said Bill drinking his drink that was a Muggle beer. Fleur had asked the same, while Harry and Hermione had asked two Cokes.

"Hey guys, are you there?" Asked Remus suddenly through the link.

"What's up, Moony? Are there any problems in the House?" Asked Harry with worry.

"Everything's in order here. I just called to tell you that Sirius will replace me tomorrow. I'm sure that the three of you will be sleeping in that moment." Explained Remus with a chuckle.

"Whom had the wonderful idea of sending Padfoot here, Remus? Because I'm sure that he also came to watch over my actions." Groaned Harry, disliking the idea of having his Godfather there.

"He had the idea. After your decision of having your link closed to him and Minerva, they decided to send someone to watch your actions. And as Minerva can't leave the School . . . " Answered Remus with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah. Something else?" Asked Harry with a sigh of discomfort.

"No, I'll see you later. Get fun and don't get drunk!" Warned the werewolf to the group before he finished the chat. "I'll go back to my place. Before I forget, this finishes 4.30 a.m. more or less." Said Harry returning to the cabin.

The rest of the night was quiet and before Bill, Fleur or Hermione could realize it, it was almost time to leave. Steve decided to take Harry's place for the last ½ hour of the night so the teen could dance with his girlfriend.

"Did you enjoy the night?" Asked Harry in a whisper while both of them dance the song "Love of my Life" with their bodies very near to each other.

"I did it especially with you near me." Said the girl kissing him passionately.

"Same here." Said Harry kissing her with the same passion.

"Shall we go?" Asked Fleur a few minutes later with a big yawn.

"Wait while I say goodbye to Steve and we are leaving." Said Harry before he went to see his boss.

"Tomorrow at the same time, don't forget it!" Shouted Steve to Harry when the four wizards were leaving the Disco. Harry nodded while they began their way back to the House.

When they reached, Sirius was waiting them with a face of few friends. Fleur and Bill bid their goodbyes to Harry and Hermione before they went to the House where the Council's Members would be staying during the break.

"Nice to see you, Padfoot." Said Harry while he and Hermione began to walk to their rooms to sleep.

"Didn't you think in the chance of saying "Hi, I'm fine, don't worry about me" after the attack??" Asked Sirius very angrily to his Godson.

"No, goodnight." Said Harry before he closed his room's door with a slam.

"I'll kill you!" Said Sirius before he went to the entrance's doors to continue with his mission.

"I guess that he's a little angry with you." Said Hermione to Harry through the link with a sleepy voice.

Harry's answer was a snore that told his girlfriend that he had fallen asleep. Thinking that it was a great idea, she did the same a few minutes later.

****

"WAKE UP, LAZY!!!!" Shouted Sirius to Harry a few hours later.

"Wha . . . what?" Asked the teen confused with the shouts.

"Good morning! Time to wale up!" Said Sirius opening the curtains of the room letting in the light of the sun.

"What time is it, Sirius?" Asked Harry suddenly wishing to kill his Godfather.

"Almost 9.30 a.m. time for breakfast." Answered the Marauder with a smile.

"GO TO THE HELL AND LET ME SLEEP!" Shouted Harry throwing his Godfather out of the room.

"Don't make me enter there to wake you again!" Threatened Padfoot.

"Sirius, go to the hell!" Shouted back the teen closing the curtains again and returning to his bed.

"Sirius, care to explain me what the hell is going on here so early?" Asked Hermione to the adult through the link with a sleepy voice.

"I'm waking my Godson! This is my revenge for having the link closed to me and Minerva!" Said Sirius with an evil smile.

"Sirius, take this piece of advice: Don't do it. If you continue with your mission, Harry will get revenge much worse against you and McGonagall. And you know that he will do it!" Said Hermione with a serious tone of voice.

"Are you defending him for worrying to both of us and not contacting after the attack to say anything?" Asked Sirius angrily.

"No, I'm not. I just think that waking him at this hour, when we went to sleep at 5.00 in the morning, will get some bad results. You know as well as I do that Harry is the worst prankster of the MNG and he could be worse than the four of you at School." Retorted Hermione before she went back to sleep.

"She's right." Said Minerva joining the chat.

"Now you defend both of them!" Said Sirius with a shout.

"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU AND LET ME SLEEP!!!" Shouted Harry to his Godparents with complete anger.

"Good morning." Said Minerva covering her ears after his shout. "I'll tell this only once: If ANY of you decide to wake again like this, what I did with the twins, will look like the job of children. Did I make myself clear?" Asked the teen with a threat to both adults.

"Yes, very clear." Said Minerva and Sirius not wishing to raise his anger.

"THEN LET ME SLEEP!" Shouted Harry again closing his link to them once more and returning to sleep.

"He's angry." Said McGonagall with a serious tone of voice.

"Really? I didn't notice." Said Sirius with sarcasm in his voice.

"Sirius, what got in your mind when you decided to wake him so early? You told me that he went to sleep at 5.00 a.m.!" Asked the Head of Gryffindor very seriously to the man.

"I was angry!" Said Sirius before he ignored her and went to wait for Charlie, his replacement of the day.

****

When Harry woke up, his mood was terrible. He hadn't got much sleep that night thanks to his Godfather and his shouts. After a long shower, he went to wake Hermione so both of them could eat together.

"Good afternoon to both of you." Greeted them Angela when they were going to the kitchens.

"Good afternoon, Grandma." Said Hermione while Harry emitted a grunt that no one could understand or decipher the meaning of it.

"Hey, guys." Said Charlie going to the place where they were.

"If you dare to shout, you'll regret it all your life!" Threatened Harry eating a fruit.

"What happened?" Asked Charlie with some confusion.

"Sirius woke him this morning at 9.00 a.m. and he had an argument with him and McGonagall." Explained Hermione with a yawn.

"So, it were all the shouts this early, right?" Asked David joining their chat.

"One of this days, I'll kill my Godparents." Said Harry with a groan due to a growing headache that he was beginning to suffer while Hermione nodded to her father's question.

"It's your fault for not contacting them after the attack. I was in the meeting after it, and both of them almost ate to Dumbledore and my father." Said Charlie sitting with them.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Said Harry with a groan.

"How was the night at the Disco? Bill was a little drunk last night!" Laughed Charlie changing the subject quickly.

"Last night was quiet. Tonight will be another story!" Said Harry.

"Can you get free a pass to me? I'm wanting to see if I can find a girlfriend. Mom wants to one of us getting married soon." Groaned Charlie.

"What about Percy and Penelope? I'm sure that they'll be the first one to give a grandchild to your mom." Laughed Harry.

"I guess that you are right in that!" Laughed the Weasley boy, before they turned their chat to Quidditch.

****

That night was quiet, at least for Hermione and the Weasleys. Harry had to check always the dance's floor to see if there was any trouble. More than 20 persons were thrown out of the Disco for fights or getting drunk. The Security guard had a busy night, although not as some others from the summer.

"So when will you leave?" Asked Angela to the teens when both if they were at dinner the Sunday.

"Tomorrow. We'll go straight from the Disco to the Station. We have tickets for both trips." Explained Harry.

"Be careful." Said Marianne to them.

"Also for you. We'll keep in touch using the Secret Keeper. He or she will be the only one who will know your new place." Said Hermione before she gave them her Christmas gift.

"I'm sure that everything will be fine." Said David hugging his daughter.

"I only hope that this time, it works better than the last one." Said Harry to his girlfriend through the link.

"So do I, Harry, so do I." Said Hermione with worry and hope in her voice.

"Shall we go?" Asked Bill to the teens entering in the Hall with Fleur and Charlie a few moments later.

"Sure. It was a pleasure to meet you." Said Harry bidding his goodbyes to Hermione's family and leaving so she could do it properly and without disturbance from none of them.

"Good bye and take care." Said Marianne hugging her daughter.

"Be careful." Said Hermione when they separated.

"Good luck with the School." Said David hugging her.

"Good luck with everything. I'm sure that we'll see each other very soon." Said Hermione to his parents before she followed her friends.

Neither Harry nor the Weasleys said anything to her in the way to the Disco. It was obvious that she needed some time alone. When they reached to their destination, all of them took different ways and went to their places: Harry and Hermione to the DJ's Cabin and the others to the Dance Floor.

****

The night went on quietly. Harry asked Hermione to get some drinks for both of them near the 3.00 because he couldn't leave the place for a while. Hermione agreed and went to do it while Harry went on with his job.

"Look at this! What do we have here?" Asked someone near Hermione when she was waiting the drinks.

"Excuse me." Said the wizard not stopping to chat with the guy, returning to the Cabin with the drinks.

""Wait, baby. No one ignores me here." Said the boy with a smirk. He was almost as tall as Ron and had a face that was ugly.

"Sorry, then I do it." Said Hermione leaving the place.

The guy stopped her again and Hermione sent a message to her friends showing everything. Harry made a signal to the Security Guards of the Disco before he went there with Bill and Charlie.

When the three reached there, the guy was trying to kiss her without permission while Hermione fought against it. Bill took the guy from the shoulder making him turn around letting the girl to leave. The other guy hit him in the nose breaking it and making Bill to bleed. Harry went to help Bill while Charlie hit the man. In less than five minutes a fight had started between the guy's friends and the three wizards.

When it finished 10 minutes later, the attacker and his friends were out of the Disco. Some of them had black eyes, broken lips and also noses. The three wizards, by their side, had only minor injuries: Bill had his broken nose from the beginning of the fight, Harry's lip was bleeding a little, while Charlie was unhurt.

"Nice night." Said Bill with sarcasm in his voice while Fleur tried to stop the bleeding.

"Beautiful." Said Harry kissing Hermione who was doing the same that Fleur with his lip.

"Get out of here all of you!" Said Steve to the group when the bleeding of Harry and Bill had finished.

"Sure." Said Charlie going to the exit with his brother and Fleur.

"It was great to see you again, Steve. Sorry for the fight." Said Harry shaking his hand and hugging Joanne.

"Don't worry, everything's ok." Said Steve with a smile.

"Before I forget, I found this between Jimmy's things. I thought that you would like to keep it." Said Joanne giving Harry a framed picture.

Harry took it and saw it with a smile. It had been taken one of the nights that he had worked there on the summer. In the picture, were Harry, Steve, Joanne and Jimmy at the DJ's Cabin all laughing.

"Thanks." Said the wizard with a smile putting it on his pocket.

"Return here to see us again some time. You'll be welcome whenever you want." Said Steve hugging him.

"I'll do it. Send an invitation to the wedding." Said Harry before he and Hermione went to the exit where Bill, Fleur and Charlie were waiting them.

"What are we going to do now?" Asked Fleur to the others.

"It's almost 4.30. Our train leaves in two hours. What do you say if we go to the station now and we wait it there?" Asked Harry to Hermione. Their bags were shrunken in their pockets. They would return them to their normal size once they were at the Castle again.

"Sure." Said Hermione.

"We'll go with you. You can't be alone." Said Bill while Charlie and Fleur nodded then the five began to walk to the Train's station.

****

Harry and Hermione fell asleep as soon as they found a compartment in the train. They had put a signal in the door asking to wake them when the train arrived to London.

"Hey, buddy, wake up." Said someone to Harry shaking his shoulder gently.

"Are we in London?" Asked the rubbing his eyes.

"We'll be there in 10 minutes." Said the man, a guard of the train before he left the compartment.

"Wake up, Hermione, we'll be in London in 10 minutes." Said Harry waking his girlfriend with a kiss.

"I needed the sleep." Said Hermione with a yawn and rubbing her eyes.

"Do you know who was at the House today? I forgot to ask before we left." Asked Harry stretching his legs while the train began to slow down.

"Ask Dumbledore." Said Hermione when the train stopped and both teens went down and began to walk to the Statio 9 ¾ to catch the train that would take them to the School.

"Are you there, Professor?" Asked Harry to his mentor while both wizards began to wait to the train that would leave in 20 minutes.

"I'm here, Harry. Where are you and Hermione now?" Asked the Headmaster.

"Station nine three quarters. We'll arrive to the School tonight." Explained Harry before he asked: "Is everything in order at the House? I don't know who is there now, so I can't contact him or her."

"Everything is in order. It looks like Voldemort has decided to not attack there anymore after your fight against the Death Eaters. Now, if I'm not wrong, should be Alastor. Bill is going to take his place tonight." Explained the Old Wizard.

"We'll see you when we arrive to the School." Said Harry while he and Hermione went to a private compartment of the train, locked the door and went to sleep a little while more.

****

When Harry woke up again, the train was almost at Hogsmeade. Hermione was waking also in that moment. They unlocked the door and waited till the Train stopped.

"Let's go, Hermione." Said Harry to his girlfriend beginning to walk to the School.

"Sure." Said Hermione following him.

"Hermione, the next time that your family make a meeting, ask if your Uncle goes. If he does, don't invite me." Said Harry putting his jacket tightly around him.

"The next time that he goes, I won't be there." Groaned Hermione taking his hand in her before they continued in silence.

"Welcome back." Said Minerva to the teens when both of them reached to the Entrance's doors.

"Nice to see you again, Professor." Said Harry while the three went to the Hall for dinner.

"What happened to you? There is blood in the jacket!" Said McGonagall with confusion pointing to Harry's jacket, where, as she had said, there was a spot of blood.

"We got in a fight at the Disco last night." Explained Harry while he and Hermione went to sit at the Gryffindor's Table and Minerva did the same to the Professor's.

"Hey, guys, welcome back!" Said Fred to the couple when they sat down.

"Hi." Said Hermione while Harry emitted another grunt that no one understood.

"How was the break?" Asked Ron joining the chat.

"I could have lived better without it." Said Harry eating a piece of meal.

"Same here." Said Hermione with a groan.

"Was that so bad?" Asked Fred in complete confusion.

"A complete disaster with capital letters." Said Harry before he summed up the whole break to his friends.

"Is there someone at the room? I want to rest a while." Asked Hermione to the other MNG.

"It's empty." Said George going to his seat.

"Same passwords?" Asked the girl to her friends. The three Weasleys nodded and Hermione left the Hall.

"What's wrong with Hermione, Harry?" Asked Katie.

"Her parents will go under the Fidelius Charm when the Christmas Break finishes." Said Harry before he followed his girlfriend to the room.

"Oh my God!" Exclaimed Ron after Harry left.

"What's wrong with it, Ron?" Asked Alicia with confusion.

"Harry's parents were the last persons that went under the Fidelius. You know how it finished." Said Ron worried by his best friend's parents.

"Oh God!" Exclaimed the Twins, realization falling in them.

"I guess that she's afraid that it will happen again." Said Ron with worry.

"I guess that she'll need some time alone." Said Katie understanding everything along the others.

Ron nodded before he turned his attention to his food, but his thought never left his two best friends and he was worried also by Hermione's parents. He shared their fear that they could be betrayed again as Harry's parents had been 14 years ago.

When the other 3 MNG entered in the room, they found Harry and Hermione sleeping on the couch, each other in the other's arms in a hug. The three saw tears in their eyes. Deciding to leave them alone, they went to their own room, but not without putting the lion to sleep before. It was obvious that the last thing that they needed was someone disturbing them.

****

Hermione kept her mood for a few days. Her friend tried to cheer her up, but stopped after seeing that it was useless. They decided to give her time before she would be the same Hermione of always.

"Have you decided the costumes for the Ball?" Asked Harry to Ron 2 days after the return and five before the dance.

"Yes. Neville will be a servant, Parvati a maid, Seamus will be an assistant of the king, Dean will be the buffoon of the court, Lavender will be the Company's lady of the Queen, I will be a knight, and you and Hermione will be the King and the Queen of the Castle." Explained Ron to his best friends.

"Cool!" Said Harry with a laugh.

"It will be great." Said Hermione liking the idea of being the queen.

"You have to make your own costumes." Said Katie joining their chat with the Twins, Lee and the Chasers.

"What character will you be, guys?" Asked Hermione to them.

"Fred and George will be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Lee will be Romeo and Katie will be Juliet from Shakespeare's story, Alicia will be Yocasta from Edipo King and I'll be The Cinderella." Explained Angelina.

"In Fourth Year?" Asked Hermione interested.

"They'll make the Justice League of Gryffindor!" Laughed Alicia.

"What is it?" Asked the twins and Ron confused.

"The Justice League is a group of superheros." Explained Hermione.

"Who will be each one of them?" Asked Harry with curiosity.

"Collin will be Clark Kent with a Camera, Ginny will be Wonder Woman, Mark will be Green Lantern, Kitty will be Hawkwoman, Peter will be Batman, Alexandra will be Black Canary and I don't remember the others." Said Katie.

"The Sixth Years chose Gods of the Greek, Roman, North and American Mythology." Added Alicia before they could ask about them.

"Ok, now the only thing we have to do is our own costumes for the ball, Dear Queen." Said Harry with a bow to his girlfriend before they left the Common Room and went to the MNG's to do their mission.

****

The MNG asked to Dumbledore if the lunch between Mr. Weasley and his family could be done in the secret room. It would give a lot of privacy to everyone and they wouldn't have any disturbance from anyone.

"Very well, but me and Professor McGonagall will be there." Was the only condition that the Headmaster had put them to do it.

The five teens hadn't seen any problem in that, but then they included the old Marauders. Like no one had any problems with it, everything had been set up easily.

In the room, the prankster had filled it with a big tree full of balls, lights and garlands of many colors. They had moved aside the beds and added chairs, sofas and armchairs for the rest of the people. Also, they had added to the room a bathroom. It wasn't very big or luxurious as the Prefects' one, but had enough space for the toilet, two showers and a bathtub that were big enough to allow three persons to take a bath without discomfort at the same time. The House elves had been said to send the gifts of the five to the room instead of their collectives' dorms as usual.

The Christmas morning was very cold and the windows of the room were full of snow. Harry woke up first of all and went to wake Hermione with a kiss on her cheek.

"Merry Christmas, my beloved Feather." Said Harry when she opened her eyes.

"Merry Christmas for you too, my beloved Blaze." Said Hermione kissing his lips with passion.

"What do you think? Do we wake them shaking them gently or . . . ?" Asked Harry to his girlfriend with an evil smile pointing to their friends.

"Or what?" Asked Hermione with curiosity and interest.

"This!" Said Harry before a bucket full of water fell over the twins and Ron's heads, waking them.

"WHAT THE HELL??!!" Asked Ron shaking completely from the water.

"Merry Christmas for the three of you!" Said Harry with a fit of laughter.

The three Weasleys understood what had happened and who was responsible of their awakening. They took their wands and began to shoot hexes and curses against Harry who shot more and more to defend himself, while Hermione joined the fight with her boyfriend.

After 20 minutes of fight, and many nasty hexes from Harry to the others, they decided to stop the war and begin to open their gifts, that were piled next to their beds.

"Why don't we go and ask Ginny to join us here? She could stay till your parents arrive." Suggested Hermione to the others. The three Weasleys nodded and she left the room to return 10 minutes later with a Ginny having a handkerchief tied to her eyes and her gifts floating next to her.

"Welcome to the MNG's Headquarters!" Said Ron to his sister when Hermione took off the handkerchief from her eyes.

"So it's true that you are the MNG!" Exclaimed Ginny sitting in an armchair after watching the room with shock and amazement.

"Yes, I'm Wise, George is Ape, Ron is Griffin, Hermione is Feather and Harry is Blaze." Explained Fred pointing to the others.

"Cool!" Was the only thing that the Weasley girl could say.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, let's open the gifts!" Shouted Harry taking the first package from his pile while the others did the same with theirs.

Harry received many and different kind of gifts, each one as good as the other one. Hermione's gift was the book "Hogwarts: A History." Harry laughed a little when he opened it. It would be the only way that she had to make sure that he read that book. Harry made a mental note to read it before the end of the School year. From Ron he received a book about tricks for Seekers called "1.001 tricks to catch the Snitch." Fred and George gave him a parchment that made him officially the Co Owner, Vice President and Principal Investor of their company plus he would receive the 25% of their profits at the end of every year. Minerva sent him an album full of pictures of his parents, this one had the double of pictures than the one that Hagrid had given him in his first year. He made a mental note to thank her for it. From Hagrid, who in that moment was at somewhere in Europe making contacts with Giants, he received a book about extinct Magical Creatures. Sirius and Remus gave him a book with pranks from their school years.

"It will help us very much." Said Fred with an evil grin when Harry showed the book to the others.

"With that one, added to this one, we'll create the complete havoc." Added George showing the book that Harry had given them.

Harry's best gift, and also biggest surprise, was Dumbledore's gift. It was a box that had two rings in it. Harry found a note in it and read it to himself.

"These rings were your parents' wedding ones.

I'm sure that you'll find a very good use in a time not very far.

Merry Christmas for you, Harry.

Albus Dumbledore."

When he finished the letter, Harry had his eyes full of tears. He had in his hands his parents' rings!

"Harry, what's wrong?" Asked Hermione concerned when she, and the other, noticed the tears.

"Read this." Said the teen extending the note to his friends and showing them the rings.

"Oh God!" Said Hermione when the five finished it. The others were as shocked as her.

"Wow." Was Fred's answer. They understood perfectly the tears of his friends and none of them could blame him for it. They knew that Harry considered everything that had been of his parents like real treasures and this. One was the biggest one of all.

"I owe a lot to Dumbledore. First my dad's cloak and now this. His Christmas' gifts are unique!" Laughed Harry whipping off his tears.

"I thought that you would like to have them." Said Dumbledore entering in that moment followed by Minerva.

"Thanks. You can't imagine how much this means for me." Said Harry giving a hug to his mentor.

"I'm sure of it." Smiled Albus when they finished the embrace.

"Thanks for the album, Professor." Said Harry to his Godmother while the two teachers sat down with the students near the fire that was burning at the fireplace. Minerva nodded with a smile while the other MNG went on with the gifts.

Harry's last gifts were from the Weasleys. Besides the usual doses of candies and sweater from Molly that was blue with a big P written on it, he received a book called "Myths of the Ancient Egypt" from Bill. Charlie sent him a book of dragons. Ginny sent him a picture of the whole Weasley family, he and Hermione took the previous year at the Burrow the night before they left for the Quidditch finals. Molly and Arthur sent him a clock that was like the one that was at the Burrow. The hands had the names of Sirius, Remus, Ron, himself and Hermione. Where the hours should be, the signals read "Common Room," "Quidditch Pitch," "Library," "In Class," "Unknown," "Hospital Wing," "At Jail," "In Mortal Peril" and a few other ones. Percy and Penelope sent him a book called "Gryffindor: A History of the Quidditch House's Teams." Harry made a promise to himself to read it as soon as he could find time to do it.

"Thanks for the owl, Harry." Said Hermione kissing her boyfriend.

"How will you name her?" Asked Ginny opening her Mother's package, to find a violet sweater and a lot of candies.

"Athena, like the Goddess of the intelligence." Said Hermione after thinking it for a few minutes. The owl hooted in agreement, making everyone to smile at it.

A few moments later, the six students began to change their clothes by time in the bathroom, while the two adults went to greet the rest of the Weasleys and the Fleur and Gabrielle to the entrance's doors.

A few minutes later the other Weasleys, Fleur and her sister, along Remus, Sirius, Minerva and Albus entered in the room. All the redheads and the two French girls had handkerchiefs tied to their eyes. When they were taken off, they began to watch the room in amazement. The MNG, the old Marauders and the two teachers watched this with a smile. All of the new people who entered there for first time had the same expression with the room.

"Welcome all of you to the MNG's Headquarters!" Said Harry hugging the females of the group and shaking the men's hands.

"Harry!" Exclaimed Gabrielle hugging him. She still remembered the time when the Gryffindor had saved her from the lake at the Second Task the last year. "Merry Christmas for you, Gabrielle!" Said Harry giving her a little box.

"Thanks!" Said the little girl with a big smile when she opened it to find a little kneazzle.

"You are welcome." Said Harry with a smile before he turned to Bill and asked with a mysterious grin: "How is your nose?"

"And your lip?" Laughed Bill. Both of them along Hermione, Fleur and Charlie burst out in laughter remembering the fight at the Disco.

"It's fine. It's already healed." Said Harry kissing Hermione when all of them controlled the laughter again.

"Same here. Fleur is a great healer." Said Bill kissing his girlfriend.

"Care to explain what are you talking about?" Asked Molly sternly to her son and the other boy.

"The last night that we went the Disco, a guy tried to do some improper thing with Hermione. Bill, Harry and I went to help her, and the guy and his friends started a fight. Bill got his nose broken and Harry's lip was broken too." Explained Charlie to the others.

"Yeah, the guy got a black eye, a broken nose and a kick in his low areas if I remember correctly." Said Harry with an evil grin kissing Hermione.

"DID YOU GET IN A FIGHT??" Asked shouting Minerva and Sirius toward their Godson while Molly did the same to her sons.

"We aren't deaf." Said Charlie covering his ears along everyone else.

"Yes, we got in a fight. It was to save a friend who was in problems." Answered Harry simply.

"We leave you alone five days and you got in more troubles than in two months here!" Exclaimed Sirius angrily.

"Padfoot, we are the owners of this place. If you don't stop shouting, you'll be out." Threatened Harry to his Godfather very seriously while the rest of the MNG nodded to his words.

"And the same goes for everyone here." Added Fred in the same tone that Harry.

"And it includes you, Professor Dumbledore. At this place, we are the ones who put the rules and not you." Finished Hermione the threat to all of them with seriousness in her voice.

"Are they talking seriously?" Asked Mr. Weasley to Dumbledore in confusion and a little of disbelief.

"I'm afraid that yes. They've built this place and they are the ones who put the rules here. Neither me nor Minerva can say something against it while we are here." Said Dumbledore with a serious tone of voice.

"What do you think if we sit and to eat? I don't know about you, but I'm hungry!" Exclaimed Ron sending everyone in a fit of laughter.

Everyone nodded and they took their seats at the table that had been enlarged for the occasion. In the ends of the tables was Dumbledore in one and Mr. Weasley in the other. On the left side of the table were sitting Harry, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny, Charlie and Gabrielle. On the right, were Molly, Minerva, Remus, Sirius, Bill, Fleur, Percy and Penelope. At the moment that they sat, the food appeared and all of them began to eat.

"You made a very good job with this place." Said Arthur to the teens watching the room carefully again.

"Thanks. We are very proud of our work here." Said Hermione with a smile while the others nodded.

"When did you build it?" Asked Molly curious.

"September. A short while after we became the MNG." Answered Ron swallowing a piece of chicken.

"What does MNG mean?" Asked Fleur with a confusion that was shared by those ones who weren't part of the Order's Council.

"Marauders Next Generation." Said the five friends at the same time with a smile.

"If I remember correctly, the old Marauders were Animagus, right?" Asked Molly to Sirius and Remus who nodded.

"So do we." Said George with a proud smile.

"All of you are Animagus??" Asked shocked Percy, Penelope, Fleur and Molly.

"All of us. I'm a Griffin, Fred is a Fox, George is a Monkey, Hermione is a Phoenix and Harry is a walking zoo." Laughed Ron before he received a kick of Harry from under the table.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Asked Molly angrily to the group.

"They knew it!" Exclaimed the five pointing to Dumbledore, Minerva, the old Marauders and the three Weasleys that were part of the Order's Council. "I'm the one who has trained them. Well, to all of them except Harry." Said Minerva to Molly.

"What is that?" Asked Gabrielle suddenly pointing to Lily, who was sleeping on her perch.

"That's Lily, my Phoenix." Said Harry with a smile while he took to the little girl to the bird.

The Phoenix woke up when she sensed them coming and sang a few notes before she flew and positioned herself in his shoulder. Harry knelt a little and Gabrielle could watch her with her eyes completely wide open. Harry took her hand carefully and left her stroke Lily's feathers. She did it with awe and a smile.

"Is it . . . ?" Asked Penelope impressed going to where they were, with her boyfriend, Molly and Fleur.

"The last Rainbow Phoenix that exists on the world." Said the teen while the four of them stroked the bird's feathers.

"How did you get her?" Asked Percy when they returned to their seats.

"I found her a time ago at the Forest." Said Harry before he retold them the story of that night.

"Why did she stay with you instead of the Headmaster?" Asked Molly in confusion with what she heard and saw.

"I already have Fawkes and I was sure that they would be better together." Explained Albus.

As if taking the cue of his master's words, in that moment Fawkes entered at the room and went to place himself with Lily at her perch. If Gabrielle was shocked and amazed with only Lily, now she had her mouth completely opened and her eyes were like two plates when she saw both birds.

"We have the zoo here! A phoenix, two cats, three owls, a monkey, a fox, a griffin, another phoenix and a multi magus who can take many forms." Said Hermione remembering her chat with Harry at Hogsmeade before Halloween.

"I told you that the only animals missing are a snake, a dog and a spider!" Laughed Harry along the MNG.

"We can solve the spider's absence easily!" Said Fred with a big an evil grin.

"We can ask to Lee his spider!" Added George with another evil smile.

"No way!" Said Ron who had panic to those animals.

"We were kidding!" Laughed the twins sending the others in an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"Do you spend many time here?" Asked Molly to the group when they had finished the meal and were now resting in the sofas and armchairs.

"We spend here most of the time out of classes." Said Harry.

"It's our own Tower. We have everything needed to live. Bookshelves, beds, a bathroom, a box for brooms, everything." Added Fred smiling.

"And like in a tower, we have a password in the entrance." Said George pointing to the place where they came from.

"They thought in everything." Said Penelope with impression.

"Thanks for the compliment." Said the 5 MNG with at the same time with a smile to Penelope.

"Who know about this place? Because I'm sure that the Council doesn't even know its existence!" Asked Molly to the teens.

"Besides all of you, the only one who had been here is Neville, Sprout and Firenze. They were here when we worked to find the cure to the virus." Explained Harry to everybody.

"I suppose that you have free entrance here, right?" Asked Arthur to Albus, Minerva and the Marauders.

"We can enter here only when they allow us." Explained Dumbledore with a sigh.

"This is our own Tower and House. We are the members and the Head of House of it." Said Hermione when the adults looked confused to them after the Headmaster's words.

"That's why we tied a handkerchief around your eyes before you came in here. We aren't going to reveal the place so willingly." Added Harry.

"It's very fair if we see it like that." Said Arthur with a pensive look after their words.

"I think that she fell asleep." Said Bill to his girlfriend pointing to her sister. Gabrielle had her eyes closed and was sleeping.

"Put her in one of the beds. We'll wake her later." Said Ron to his future sister-in-law.

"Thanks." Said Fleur levitating her sister and putting her in one of the beds and tucking her in. "What costumes will you wear tonight?" Asked Charlie to the teens remembering the Ball of that day.

"You'll find it out tonight." Said Harry with a mysterious grin.

"Does anyone want any fire crackers? We have created special ones?" Said Fred to the others with a big box full of them.

"Sure." Said Harry taking one while the others looked at them cautiously. Harry opened it and from it appeared a chain with a golden Scepter. It would be a great addition to his costume.

The rest seeing that the firecrackers were everything but dangerous followed his example and began to open them. Besides the scepter, Harry got a full box of Chocolate Frogs, a folder for their cards, a set of chess' pieces, a chain with a golden little Lion's statue that he put around his neck immediately and a few other things.

"Nice gifts." Said Hermione when she got a crown that would suit very well for her costume.

"How much will cost these firecrackers?" Asked Albus with a smile when he got a pair of glasses like his ones, but silvered.

"6 Sickles each one." Answered Fred.

The whole group continued talking till it was almost 6.30 p.m. In that moment, the adults decided to leave the room so the teens could get ready for the Ball and could change their clothes for the costumes.

****

"Ok, everybody, listen to me for a minute!" Shouted Harry to his House mates a while before everyone went down to the Hall for the Ball.

"What's up?" Asked a sixth year girl that had a costume of Athena, the Greek Goddess of the Intelligence.

"Let's decide the order that we'll follow to go down. We can't appear there all of us together at the same time." Explained Harry while he wrote in a parchment the numbers one, two, three and four. He tore it and put them in a bag and offered to Angelina to take one.

"I have the three." Said the Chaser understanding what Harry was planning and showing the piece of parchment to the others.

"I have the one." Said Ginny showing it to everybody.

"The two." Said a boy of sixth who was wearing a costume of Thor, the North God of the Thunder.

"The four." Said Hermione taking the last one.

"Ok, then this will be the order: first will go Fourth Year, 10 minutes later will go Sixth, after that the turn will be for Seventh and Fifth will be the last ones. Got it?" Said Harry to the others who nodded in understanding to his words.

"Hey I've got an idea!" Exclaimed Fred suddenly with a big grin.

"What?" Asked all of them at the same time curious with his idea.

"Where is Nick?" Asked the twin who had a costume of Dr. Jekyll, the man that transformed in a demon. Of course, George would be the Demon, Mr. Hyde

Everyone knew that he was talking about the resident ghost of the House: Nearly Headless Nick. Many of them understood immediately his idea: they would use the ghost to introduce the years and the motives of the customs by time.

"I'll go to find him!" Exclaimed Collin who was the less notorious costumed Gryffindor of the four years.

Convincing the ghost to do the job was very easy. He was more than happy to help them in that and agreed to do it. He asked them to tell them when the next year would appear in the Hall so he would introduce them properly.

"Thanks Nick, we owe you one!" Said Harry when the Ghost disappeared from the Common Room and went to the Hall to do his mission.

****

"Ahem, I call your attention for a few minutes!" Said the Ghost a few minutes later when everyone was at the Hall. The only missing House was Gryffindor and the other Houses were wondering the reason of their missing.

"Where are the Gryffindors, Sir Nicholas?" Asked McGonagall with concussion. The Head of Gryffindor was wearing a costume of a Lioness.

"I'm here to introduce them to the Dance. First of all, we have the Fourth years that have chosen the subject superheros as their costumes." Said the ghost while all the students of that year appeared in the Hall.

Between the costumes, many recognized students wearing ones of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman, Black canary, Green Lantern, Clark Kent, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter and a few others.

"Oh, no! They did it!" Said Minerva having an idea of what was going on.

"What are you talking about, Minerva?" Asked Sirius who was wearing a one of the Death.

"Every year has decided to wear costumes of a same subject. Very creative, I must say." Said Dumbledore who was dressed up as Merlin.

The other Houses had understood it and watched with curiosity as the sixth years entered. Besides Athena and Thor, there were ones of Ares, the Greek God of the War, Ra, the Egyptian God of the Sun, some Americans, other north Gods and some other that no one recognized.

"I see that they had a big sense of creativity for this. No other House thought about doing it." Said Flitwick who was dressed up as one of the elves from the Muggles' gardens.

The next ones in appear were the seventh years. Besides of the twins, the Chasers and Lee's costumes, there were of Hamlet, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and one or two from the Lord of the Rings.

"I wonder what subject was chosen by the fifth years." Asked Remus who was dressed up as a clown.

His question didn't last very much to be answered. The first ones in appear were Neville and Parvati. He was wearing a black suit and a tray in his hands. She was wearing a white apron over a black short dress and had a feather duster in her hands. It was obvious to everyone that they were servants. Dean entered wearing a classic buffoon costume with a 3-cornered hat. It was obvious who he was. The next one was Ron who was wearing an armor and had a sword in his hip. He was wearing metallic gloves and had a helmet with a visor over it. It was open so he could see what he was doing. The next ones were Seamus and Lavender. He had many parchments in his hands and looked very important. Everyone knew that he was an embassador of the King. She had her hair tied in a ponytail and some sewing needles and a sewing box in her hands. The last ones were Harry and Hermione. He was wearing a big and royal costume, had a crown that hid his scar, and a Scepter. She was wearing a big pink dress, and had a crown that was gold and had a gem on the top. The eight went to sit next to a table that was addressed for them and everyone put aside their things and waited till they would start to eat.

"Thanks, Nick. You can go." Said Harry to the ghost with a smile, while the whole House bowed in thanks to him.

"It was my pleasure to help you." Said Nick before he disappeared through the wall.

"Now that everyone is here, let's eat." Said Dumbledore clapping his hands and the food appeared immediately in the table.

While they were eating, the whole school began to talk about the Gryffindor's idea. They didn't look jealous for it, although many ones looked surprised to not having thought in it before. Said House ignored their chats and went on eating as if nothing was special.

"No one expected this show." Said Minerva going to the table where her Godson was eating with his year mates.

"It's called the Surprise's Factor, Professor." Said Hermione while she was cutting a piece of fried chicken.

"Whom had this idea?" Asked Dumbledore joining their chat.

"Me. I proposed it to them who liked idea." Started Harry pointing to the other fifth years, who nodded, "then we passed it to the others who liked it too so we decided to do it. We just had to discuss the subject of the costumes."

"Do you mind if I sit with my date?" Asked Cho who was dressed up as a Ballerina.

"Of course we don't." Said Harry while she sat next to Neville who kissed her.

"I'll tell you that all of you shocked us! No one would have thought in this NEVER EVER." Said the Ravenclaw's Seeker beginning to eat a piece of meal.

"That was our purpose." Said Lavender with a big grin.

"And you did a great job." Chuckled the Headmaster going back to the High Table with the Deputy Headmistress.

"Does anyone know what band will play today?" Asked Neville to the others.

"No idea." Said the others at the same time with a shook of their heads.

They continued with the chats that went from the possible bands for the dance, to school's subjects, passing through Quidditch, music, make ups and many others.

"I didn't know that they would be here." Whispered Hermione to her boyfriend pointing to two birds that were near the Headmaster. Harry watched them and recognized them as Lily and Fawkes.

"What are Fawkes and Lily doing here, Professor?" Asked Harry to his mentor with confusion.

"They are enjoying the dance as everyone else." Said Dumbledore simply with a twinkle on his eyes.

"What are their costumes?" Asked the teen curiously.

"They are dressed up as two Phoenixes." Said Dumbledore with a chuckle.

Harry burst out in laughter with the answer. Everyone that was in the table looked at him confused and asked the reason of the laughter.

"See those two birds?" Asked Harry to the others pointing to the Phoenixes. Luckily, Lily had a disguising charm on her feather so she looked as a normal one and not as a Rainbow Phoenix.

"Yes." Said the others not understanding the reason yet.

"Those birds are phoenixes, right?" Asked Harry. When everyone nodded, he continued: "For the dance, they are dressed up as Phoenixes."

The rest of them caught what he meant: They were dressed up as what they were. They weren't wearing a costume. When the realization fell upon them, they burst out in laughter.

"Very originals, I must say." Said Cho when the laughter calmed down.

"Actually, Lily is dressed up." Said Hermione to her boyfriend through the link. Harry nodded in understanding, although he didn't tell this to the others.

After 20 minutes, Dumbledore stood up and the silence fell over the Hall to listen to his words.

"Now that everyone has eaten and satisfied their appetite, we'll begin to dance. Tonight, we'll have as band to the Twisted Sisters." Said Dumbledore while the band started to play the music and the tables went to the walls leaving an open space in the Hall.

"Let's dance, my dear Blaze!" Exclaimed Hermione taking Harry's hand and leading him to the dance floor.

The whole School was dancing in the floor. Harry watched the other couples: Dean was with Parvati and Seamus was with Padma who had a costume of fairytale. Draco Malfoy, who was dressed up as the Phantom of the Opera, was dancing with a Fourth Year girl from Ravenclaw, Alexandra Niles, who was wearing a costume of the Statue of the Liberty. Harry remembered that she had lived many years at America, so that was the reason of the costume.

"They look very nice together." Said Hermione following his look to the blonde and the girl, when they kissed each other.

"Not nicer than we." Said Harry kissing her.

"You are right in that." Smiled the girl kissing him again.

"Remember the Ball of the last year?" Asked Harry to her ear when the song changed to a very slow one.

"What a mess!" Said Hermione with a look of disgust at the memory.

"Yeah, but it looks like someone had got some lessons in dance." Chuckled Harry pointing to Neville and Cho, who had danced without any kind of accidents.

"Oh yeah." Laughed Hermione looking at them with a smile.

"Look at Sirius with Sinistra!" Said Ron to his friends through the link.

"They look nice." Said Hermione watching the two adults dance very near to each other.

After another 12 songs, Harry and Hermione returned to their table. Neville and Cho were talking there and laughing. Harry began to listen to their chats with not much attention while he continued the scan around the Hall. It was something that he got used to do since the Disco's nights. He saw a third year girl from Hufflepuff who had gone with a Fourth Year from Gryffindor, leaving the Hall and going outside with a guy of Sixth from Slytherin, that Harry didn't recognize. She was wearing a costume of Princess and was dressed up as a demon.

"Hey, Harry, are you there?" Asked Hermione snapping her fingers near his eyes, making him lose contact of the couple.

"Sorry, I was distracted. Did you say something?" Apologized for Harry.

"Whom do you think that will win the next Quidditch Match?" Asked Neville.

The last match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had been won by the Eagles. It had been a very closed match and had ended 350 to 210. The next one was Hufflepuff against Slytherin during January.

"Don't know. If Malfoy changes the tactics of Slytherin maybe they can have chance. I'm sure that it will be a closed match, though." Said the Seeker after thinking about it a few moments.

"What's our next match?" Asked Neville to Harry.

"Ravenclaw in February and we'll finish the season against Hufflepuff a while after the Easter's Holidays." Said Harry to his teammates.

The chat went on for a while, changing the subjects at least five times in half hour before they went to the dance floor once more. Harry caught sight of the boy that had left with the girl when he went to sit, and saw that he was with someone else. Scanning quickly around the Hall, he couldn't find the girl.

"What's wrong?" Asked Hermione noticing some worry in his face.

"Probably nothing. I just have a bad feeling about something." Said Harry before he explained her the whole situation.

"Wait a while, maybe she went to the bathroom." Said Hermione not very sure.

"Maybe you are right." Said Harry with a shrug of his shoulders before he went on dancing.

"Hey guys, are any of you planning to go to the room tonight?" Asked Fred to Ron, Harry and Hermione through the link.

"Don't think so, why?" Said Ron, while Harry and Hermione sent negative answers too.

"George and will be there with the girls and we don't want any kind of disturbance." Said the twin with a mysterious grin.

"You have free way." Said Hermione with a laugh.

"Use protection. I don't think that your mother would like to have a grandchild because you didn't use it." Said Harry with an evil grin.

"Thanks for that piece of advice!" Laughed Fred before the four disappeared slowly from the Hall without anyone noticing it.

"Hey guys have you seen Mary? I can't find her anywhere." Said Michael a few minutes later. He was with the Hufflepuff girl that Harry had seen leaving before.

"When did you see her by last time?" Asked Hermione not sure that her words had been right earlier.

"Like one hour ago." Said the boy confused.

"Professor Dumbledore we may have a problem." Said Harry to his mentor through the link.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Asked Albus sensing some worry in the Prefect's voice.

Harry retold him everything and Dumbledore understood his worry. Albus kept quiet while he absorbed the information and began to decide what to do from that moment.

"What can we do now?" Asked Hermione joining the chat.

"Let's look for her discreetly. Tell Sirius to find us at the entrance." Said Harry to Dumbledore before he turned to Ron and said: "Find Katie and tell her the same."

The redhead nodded and went to do what he had been asked, while Dumbledore did the same with the ex-convict. At the same time, the two Prefects went to the doors and began to wait the others.

"What's wrong?" Asked Katie when she, Ron and Sirius found the two teens at the entrance of the Castle.

"We may have a problem in our hands." Said Harry before he explained the whole situation to his friend, the Head Girl and his Godfather.

"We have to find her." Said Sirius when he finished the explanation.

"That's right. Sirius, try to find her scent like Padfoot. Ron, Katie, follow him. I and Hermione will look for her too." Said Harry before he transformed himself in a wolf, at the same time that Sirius changed to his Animagus form.

The five separated their ways and began to look for the girl by their sides. After 10 minutes, Harry found her scent and followed it to the Greenhouses. When she found her, he almost vomited. The poor girl was almost naked and it was obvious that someone had tried to rape her. He transformed himself to his human form and tried to find some pulse. There was one, very weak but there was.

"Explain this to Dumbledore, and I'll take her to the Hospital Wing right now." Said Harry to Hermione before he began to run toward the Castle with the little girl in his arms.

Hermione nodded and followed him. She entered in the Hall and went straight to the Headmaster who was speaking with McGonagall. In whispers to his ear, she told him what she and Harry had found.

Both of them paled when they heard the news. Albus said something to Minerva before he left the Hall and went straight to the Hospital Wing. When he reached there, he found Harry waiting outside the door.

"How is she?" Asked Dumbledore very seriously and worried.

"Not very good. I found some pulse but it was very weak." Said Harry at the same moment that Poppy left the Infirmary.

"How is she Poppy?" Asked Dumbledore.

"She's bad. She has some bleeding, some internal injuries. It's obvious that someone tried to rape her too." Said Madame Pomfrey to both of them.

"Is she going to live?" Asked Harry worried.

"Yes, but she is in shock." Said the Matron with a very serious tone of voice.

"Thanks, Poppy." Said Albus to her. The Matron nodded and went back to her place of work. "What shall we do now?" Asked Harry, while he sent a message to Ron and Sirius telling them to return to the Castle.

"Who was the boy that left with her?" Asked Dumbledore very seriously and angrily.

Harry had seen him like that only one time before in the five years that he had been at the School: when they knew the truth behind Crouch and Moody. He knew immediately that the boy wasn't going to leave this situation very easily.

"He's from Sixth year. He's in Slytherin. Don't know his name. He was dressed up as a demon." Said Harry before he sent the mental image of the costume to his mentor.

"Severus, Filius, Minerva, Linda, please I need that you meet me outside of the Hospital Wing right now." Said Dumbledore to the 4 Head of Houses through the link. His tone of voice was imperative and, as expected, the four caught the message very clearly.

"Albus, what's wrong?" Asked Snape when the four had arrived and met the Headmaster and the student.

"A student tried to rape other student tonight." Said Dumbledore before he explained the whole situation to them.

"Who was the bastard that did it?" Asked Linda Sprout completely bewildered with the action against a student of her House.

"We don't know his name, but we know his costume." Said Dumbledore before he sent them the image that Harry had given him.

"I think that he's Marcus Likster." Said Minerva remembering the costume.

"Yes, it's he." Nodded Snape who had recognized it too.

"Severus take him to my Office right now." Said Dumbledore letting the others to see his anger and fury. Snape nodded and went back to the Hall with Minerva at his side.

"I'll send an owl to her parents." Said Sprout going to the Owlery to do her mission.

"I'll go back to the Hall to keep some control over the Ball." Said Flitwick before he began to walk there.

"You are coming with me." Said Dumbledore to Harry who nodded and followed his Mentor to his Office.

"Harry, how is she?" Asked Hermione through the link at the moment that the Headmaster and her boyfriend entered in the Office of the first and sat down to wait the others.

"Not very well." Said Harry and retold her everything.

"Oh my God!" Exclaimed the Prefect when he finished the story.

"Try to keep this quiet and don't tell it to anyone yet." Said Harry while Snape and McGonagall entered in the Office with the guy.

"Mr. Likster, you have been accused of trying to rape a younger student near the Greenhouses. There are witnesses that say that you left with her. And no one saw her between that moment and when she was found a few minutes ago. What do you have to say about this?" Asked Dumbledore trying to keep his rage and anger at bay, but not having very much success on his mission.

"He scares me when he's like that." Said Harry to his Godmother through the link.

"Same here, Harry, same here." Said Minerva very seriously.

When the boy didn't say anything about this, the three teachers and Harry began to lose the patient.

"Very well, if you don't want to say anything we'll do this by the hard way. Severus, do you have some Veritaserum with you?" Asked Albus to the Potion's Master who nodded and made the student to drink three drops of the potion.

When Dumbledore asked hm again about it, Likster began to confess everything: how he took her to the Greenhouses, how he tried to rape her, how she fought and that he hurt her with the Cruciatus.

CRASH!

Minerva and Severus covered themselves when every glass from the room shattered and exploded. Dumbledore didn't do it, he just waved his wand and fixed it without being disturbed at all by the shattering.

"I would thank you if you control your temper, Harry." Said Albus to the teen simply without taking his attention away from Likster.

"Sorry, couldn't avoid it." Said the Prefect with an angry look while McGonagall and Snape looked at him shocked.

"Severus take him to the Dungeons. He'll be there till the Aurors come to take him to Azkaban. He'll be expelled from this School. Please also send an owl to his parents explaining the whole situation." Said Dumbledore to the Head of Slytherin after stunning the student and making appear rope around him.

Snape nodded and levitated his student and left the Office with direction to the Dungeons.

"How did you notice it?" Asked Dumbledore to Harry sitting again in his chair signaling to Minerva and him to do the same in front of him.

"When I worked at the Disco, I was told to keep always an eye on the Dance Floor in case there was any kind of problem. Tonight I did the same and saw them leaving outside. A while later I saw him inside again, but couldn't find her at the Hall. When Michael . . . " Began Harry but Minerva cut him.

"Who's Michael?" Asked the teacher confused.

"Michael Millot, he was her date for the Ball. He's in fourth year in Gryffindor." Explained Harry.

"Continue." Said Dumbledore after he and Minerva nodded in understanding.

"When he asked if we had seen her, I knew that something wasn't ok. That's when I sent you the message." Finished Harry his explanation.

"Thanks God that you worked at the Disco." Said Minerva with a smile.

"Go back to the Ball, it will finish in 30 minutes and I'm sure that Hermione will want to dance with you a while more." Said Dumbledore with a smile.

"Thanks." Said the teen going to the exit.

"Gryffindor will receive 100 points for your work and quick thinking." Said Minerva before he left. Harry nodded before he left the Office.

"Minerva, please speak with Mr. Millot and explain him the situation." Said Dumbledore before they left the Office to return to the Hall to end the Ball.

"Shall we tell the whole School about the incident?" Asked Minerva when they entered.

"Not tonight, they deserve the fun." Said Albus watching the students dancing.

****

"Harry, what happened?" Asked Katie to the Prefect when he returned to the Ball. With her, were Ron, Hermione, Remus, Sirius and a few other persons. All of them had a worried look in their faces.

Harry retold them everything that had happened at Dumbledore's office. He didn't tell them about the glass' incident. When he finished all of them were shocked and some of them looked as if they wanted to kill the guy immediately. After Harry assured them that he would be expelled and sent to Azkaban, their mood seemed to calm down a little, but not at all.

"If you excuse me, I want to enjoy the last minutes of the Ball with my girlfriend." Said Harry leading Hermione to the dance floor once more.

None of them said a word while they danced a slow song. Hermione sensed that he needed to stay with her and didn't want to talk about the whole incident now. She respected his feelings and decided to be there, although it was just dancing.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" Said Harry kissing her, when the song, that was the last one of the night, ended.

"Yes, but I love it when the words come from your mouth." Smiled Hermione kissing him once more.

"Now that the last song has been played, it has reached the moments for the prizes." Said Dumbledore to the students who cheered and waited it with their baited breaths.

Among the categories were: More terrifying (this was won by a fourth year boy from Ravenclaw who was dressed up as a Zombie, it was very realistic to everyone's opinion); Most Comical (Dean with his Buffoon); More Elaborated (Ron with his knight), Most Original Idea for a Costume (This was shared by the whole House Gryffindor by their idea about the years and subjects) and some others. Each student won 50 points to their House and a prize of 10 Galleons. In the Gryffindor's collective prize, every year received 20 points and every student got five Galleons each.

"Now, go back to your Towers." Said Dumbledore with a smile when the money had been given to the students.

"May I speak with you?" Asked Sprout to Harry when the Prefect was going to the exit with his house mates.

"Sure." Said Harry motioning the other to go to the Tower without him.

"Albus told me everything that happened. In the name of my House and Mary, I want to thank you for what you did." Said Sprout with a smile extending her hand.

"You are welcome, Professor." Said Harry shaking it.

"I still can't believe it. How could someone do it?" Asked the Professor with a bewildered look.

"Don't try to understand the actions of the other persons, Professor. It's something nearly impossible. When you think that you know someone, he will give you a surprise. The only thing that matters now, is that Mary is fine and that bastard will be forever in Azkaban. It's everything that matters." Said the teen sure of his words.

"Very wise words for a 15 years old teen." Said Sprout with a smile.

"I have had very good teachers in the life's matters." Said Harry before he went to the Tower.

When he arrived to the Common Room, he found Hermione waiting for him. She hugged him and gave him a kiss that Harry returned with passion and love. Both teens stayed like that for a while before they separated.

"Tonight was a very hard one." Said Harry while he took off some parts of his costume.

"Hey, we have the girls' dorm empty tonight. Lavender will be with Ron and Parvati will be with Dean. What do you say if you sleep with me tonight? No one will disturb us till tomorrow's morning." Said Hermione to her boyfriend with an evil grin.

"You have some bad thoughts, my dear Feather." Said Harry with a smile while both of them went to her dorm.

"I have a good teacher in that, my beloved Blaze." Said Hermione kissing him after locking magically the door.

Both teens went on kissing for almost an hour before both of them fell asleep in the other's arms. Both of them had a big smile on the lips that didn't disappear in all the night.