Harry was very shaken by this, and felt new anger toward Voldemort. He felt his scar prickle. He had to know what they where there for. Him. The compartment door opened, and his friends walked in. Much to Ginny's disappointment, Jadyn was in their compartment on the way home too.
"Harry, what's going on?" Jadyn asked. He did not answer he did not talk at all on the train ride to Hogwarts. He wondered how many people got killed or hurt because of Voldemort. He felt it was his fault, Voldemort would not have come if he was not after Harry. Half way through the train ride, the Candy Cart Lady (what's her name, or what is she called?) came.
"Anything of the trolley, dears?" She asked. Harry had no heart to eat candy, but Ron did. "Oh yes, and Mr. Potter…" she said.
Harry looked up.
"When we arrive at Hogwarts, stay on the train. You are to be escorted to Dumbledore's office."
Harry nodded to show that he understood, then she left.
"What was the about?" Ron asked.
Harry shrugged.
When they arrived at Hogwarts, everyone got off except for Harry.
"You gonna be all right?" Ron asked.
"Yeah," said Harry, speaking for the first time since the attack.
"K, see ya in a bit."
A minute later, Professor McGonagall stepped on to the train to escort Harry. They arrived at the statue in front of Dumbledore's office (what does the stature look like? I cant remember…AHHH) and said "Berttie Botts." They entered, and McGonagall left Harry there.
"Ahh, Harry. Do you know why I wanted you escorted here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah…As we left Platform 9 ¾, I saw a Death Eater attack…"
"And do you know why they were there?"
"Me."
"Exactly. We need to insure your safety. You must stay at Hogwarts during break, as you usually do. And here is this…" Dumbledore took a long silver chain out of his desk, which has a little bottle of clear liquid on the end. There was also a small round blue bottom on the top of the bottle. "Press this button when you are in danger, and one of the professors will be alerted to where you are, and will come as quickly as possible. The bottle contains phoenix feathers, protecting the wearer from harm."
Wordlessly, Harry took the neaklace and slipped it around his neck. He hid it under his robes. "Thank you…"
"Yes, and let's go down to the feast so the sorting shall begin, shall we?"
Harry nodded and followed.
"And, Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Do not blame youself for the attack." Dumbledore said kindly.
~*~
Harry did not say anything during Dumbledore's speech.
"What did Dumbledore want?" Hermione asked.
"To..umm, talk about what happened at Platform 9 ¾." Harry felt it was not safe to tell anyone about the necklace. Or at least, not yet.
She looked at him strangely, but nodded. After the feast Harry went straight to bed, without a 'Good night' to his friend. He lay awake for hours, looking at the necklace given to him. Where was Voldemort now? He looked at the open window, the curtains fluttering in the breeze. He suddenly felt adrenaline running through is veins. "No," he told himself. "I'm just being paranoid. An open window has nothing to do with Volde-" He heard a quiet breathing coming from somewhere. He looked around the room, and did not see anyone. "Guys?" He called out. No one was there. He saw a quick movement of silver. A figure was standing right next to him, Harry could hear him breath. He looked up, and screamed.
Wormtail was standing right above his bed, with rope, a bag, and a long rusty knife. Wormtail dropped these when Harry screamed, and jumped out the window. Harry jumped out of bed, and ran to the window, and saw a figure zooming off on a broomstick into the night sky.
"Harry!" came a cry, Harry turned around and saw the whole Gryffindor common room standing at the door. Harry shut the window, and the fluttering windows fell, and stopped moving.
"What happened?"
"Wormtail…he came and tried to kidnap me or something."
Ginny gasped. Harry inconspicuously pressed the button on the necklace charm. A minute later, Dumbledore entered.
"What happened here?" he asked hoarsely.
"Wormtail came…with these." Harry held up the rob, bag, and knife.
Dumbldore's eyes grew wide. "Everyone, go to your dormitories. Harry, come with me. Bring those." No one moved. "GO!"
Ginny caught his hand as he left, he looked at her and saw worry written all over her face. "I'll be fine…" he whispered. She nodded, not believing it, and ran to her dorm.
Dumbledore lead Harry to his office. "I'm afraid Hogwarts is no longer safe. I will immediately get guards and extra spells and enchantments for safety precautions. You will need to spend the remainder of the night here." With a wave of his wand, a purple sleeping bag appeared for Harry. Harry climbed in, but did not fall asleep that night.
The next day, classes where canceled, and would start up the following day. Guards where placed at every entrance, not to be moved until Voldemort's downfall. Aurors and members of the Order where casting spells on window and doors, and could be seen bustling around the school, unable to stop to talk.
"I think all these safety precautions are unnecessary." Said a drawling voice, Malfoy.
His croines, Crabbe and Goyle, chuckled.
"I mean…" Malfoy continued. "It's just Potter." He spat out that name with disgust. Ginny over heard this. "Shut up, you scum!" She slapped him hard across the cheek, causing Malfoy to howl in pain, there was now a red handmark on his pale cheek. "Serves you right!" she said, flouncing off.
So the months passed, the day when Wormtail tried to capture Harry seemed to be far in the past. No matter how long ago it seemed, guards where still necessary. February had approached, it was the first of February when Dumbledore announced there would be a ball on February 14, a Valentine's Ball, starting at seven at night. The rest of the day students third year and up could go to Hogsmeade. The Great Hall buzzed with excitement, from the girls at least. The boys groaned. Harry did too, then cast a glance at down the table. He saw Ginny, who was gazing in his directions with a distanced, yet full of love, look in her eyes. Harry's heart skipped a beat, he did not know why. He pretty much tried to ignore it. He continued to look down the table, and glanced at Jadyn. Her dark brown curls cascaded down her back.
He knew he wanted to ask her, and he knew he could not wait until last second like he did with Cho when asking her to the Yule Ball. But he still kept putting it off, not knowing how. He waited about eight days (hey, that would be today, wouldn't it? [lol] back to the story…) until he finally did.
He sat next to her on the couch in the common room. "Umm…C-can I t-t-ta-talk t-to y-you?" he stuttered.
"Sure." Jadyn sat up and faced him. "What's up?"
"Um..Will…willyougoballwithme?"
"Excuse me?"
Harry blushed, he sucked at this. "Will you go to the ball with me?"
Jadyn's face broke out into a grin. "Of course!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him. Ginny overheard the whole conversation. She wished more than anything to be Jadyn right now, anyone but herself. She felt heartbeak all over again. Her heart was torn, and plummeted to the pit of her stomach. She felt tears drip down her cheeks, she could not hold them back. She ran to her dorm, and slammed her door. She threw her self on her bed, and cried. The door slam caused everyone to jump, Harry and Jadyn to break apart from their hug, and look at the dorm door.
"Oh dear," muttered Hermione. She ran up the steps after Ginny.