Chapter Two~ The Chosen One

The Great Hall was more crowded than usual at winter break this year, for a winter ball entitled "Winter's Rose" was coming in a few days. Professor Flitwick was already busy levitating the decorations to the unreachable places. The Hall was filled with excitement as students talked, about the upcoming dance amongst themselves. Harry shook himself from drifting off into thought and glanced across the table at Ron and Hermione.

"Ron," Hermione said in between giggles," stop it."

Ron continued to tickle her, "Stop what?" he smiled peevishly.

Harry smiled, he was glad that they found each other, but he couldn't help but wonder what it felt like to be in love, for it was something unknown to him.

*You should eat so you have strength in the Quidditch match against slytherin.....not...not that you'll need it."

Harry looked down at his plate full of cold food and turned his attention to a young gryffindor girl, who like Harry, was in her 7th year. His emerald green eyes met her amethyst ones.

*Im not hungry," he said, caught in her gaze. *What's your name?"

Her cheeks turned from a rosy pink to a bright red. Trying to hide it, she looked down at the table and tucked her curly black hair behind her ear.

"Arielle, but many call me Ari..."

Harry smiled, "Oh, nice to meet you Ari, my name is....."

"Harry Potter, I know" she said cutting off his sentence.

His smile faded into a confused expression, "How do you know my....."

"Who doesn't?" she said cutting him off again, drawing invisible circles on the table with her finger.

Hearing a voice Harry snapped his head up looked around, this caught Ari's attention, "What's wrong?"

"Uh...nothing I was just..." he stopped suddenly hearing it again. (*"The Choosssssssen one will bring doom to us all.*)"

"What? Who?" asked Harry out loud..

Ari only gave him a confused look, "Harry? Is everything okay?" she asked and had not obviously heard what he did.

Hearing no reply, Ari looked up at Harry who was again staring at his food. Suddenly the joyful cheer that filled the Hall was quickly interrupted by a scream. Harry quickly looked up; coming eye contact with a black snake that was only inches away from his face. He slowly moved his hand to the pocket of his robe which held his wand.

However, he failed to reach it as the snake lunged for his hand, forcing him to throw his hands back. Everyone froze in fear at the sight of the snake. Some wanted to help rid of it, others did not, however no one did anything except for stare at Harry and the snake. Harry slowly put his hands back down as the snake hissed a final message and slithered down from the table and out of the Great Hall, with Professor Snape chasing after it with his wand in arm.

*~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*

It was ten minutes into the match and Harry was already racing around the field looking for the snitch. He could have sworn there were two. Catching sight of the snitch he raced after it, Draco, tailing close behind him. Harry was just inches away when he saw a black dog figure from the corner of his eye. Turning his attention away from the snitch, he stopped and looked into the same eyes. Suddenly, it came to him, "Sirius?" he questioned softly to make sure no one herd. Harry felt torn between happiness and anger. Sure he was glade to see Sirius, but didn't want him to take the risk of getting caught, just to see him.

Memories flooded back to him, as he remembered his third year, when he saw Sirius during one of the matches and thought he was the grim, the death omen in the form of a black dog. In an instant he was reminded," The Match!"

He had forgotten about it completely. Breaking away eye contact from the black dog, he quickly turned to look for the snitch, but was met by a sharp pain in his side as a bludger smashed into him. Without warning a second blugder smashed into his right shoulder before he even had the chance to dodge it.

Both bludgers were successful in dismounting Harry of his broom and sending him to the hard ground below. He lay on his back taking small breaths, for if he took bigger ones the pain would greatly increase. He couldn't feel his body, all he could feel were the cold drops of water dripping on his face and all he could see was the dark stormy sky, and everything else was just a blur. Harry closed his eyes hoping it would help the pain disappear.

(Ok, it's that time again! Time to review and rate!)