KitsuneNeko: I am trying to keep it a mystery, but it is hard because I know whom this mysterious person is. The mystery will unfold itself, as ithas in my head ever so nicely.
sasa-chic: When I first started this fic, the chapters were coming out in matters of hours. Now, with school and all of those distractions, it is harder to come out with chapters. For example, the last chapter was half written in September and I've only now been able to pick it up. This chapter was written in short spells over the course of three days. But it does not take long to write a chapter. Most often, the research that I have to do (to make sure that Hagrid's dialect is somewhat right, to make sure that I'm using the right spells, etc.) takes more time than the actual writing. I hope that this came out fast enough for you.
Thank you both for your speedy reviews!
Of course I do not own any of these characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling. Please do not get angry, oh goddess of the Harry Potter universe for the use of your characters!
Please review. I read each and every one. The suggestions are very helpful.
"So are we all staying then?" Harry asked the group that sat around him. A clamor rose up as Hermione, Ron, Pansy, Ginny, and Draco answered at once.
It was a week until school let out for the Christmas holidays. Classes were wrapping up for the break and Professor Dumbledore had decided to extend the break by one more week facing Voldemort's imminent rise to full strength. For Harry, this meant one more week in the quiet halls of Hogwarts.
Ron shook his head. "I wish that you could stay, Pansy."
Pansy gave Ron a clumsy hug. "Me too, sweetie, but I have to try to turn my parents to our side. It may be my last chance." She choked back a worried sob.
For weeks, Pansy and Draco had been trying to convince as many Slytherin students as they could to support Professor Dumbledore. They were now moving on to their parents and friends. With Draco's leadership, the movement was slowly growing.
"Then it's the five of us…" Harry lost himself in thought while the others continued their conversation.
Raised voices reached Harry and the others at the back of the library as Peter and Emma poked their heads around the corner.
"There you two are!" they exclaimed together.
"We have got our work cut out for us, so come on," Peter said.
Hermione and Draco got up to follow the Head Boy and Girl.
As they disappeared out of the library, Ginny got up. "I think that I'm going to get some fresh air."
"Disappearing again, are we?" Pansy joked.
Ginny turned back to Pansy. "And who told you? Ron? Harry? Is this so funny?"
"Actually, it was Her—"
Ron clapped a hand over Pansy's mouth. "It was Harry. We thought some of the other prefects might have seen you."
Ginny walked over to Harry. "You jerk!" She slugged him so hard that he fell out of his chair. The door slammed as she ran out of the library.
"Pansy, that's why we don't mention it around Ginny."
Harry peaked over the table. "She gone?"
Ron noticed Harry's once-again-broken glasses. "Oculus Reparo. She's gone, mate."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He shouldered his bag. "I'm off for the common room."
"Right…Pansy?"
They gathered their books and left the library.
"Dumbledore is throwing a Yule Ball. Like last time, all of your assignments are in the notebooks. Also, I would like to mention that this is a goodwill ball. There will be a live band and the heads of the Ministry of Magic will be here. This must go off without a hitch." Emma gave Draco a warning glance.
The knot in his throat grew more tangled. Draco remembered the feeling of having his soul ripped from his body; it was not the most pleasant feeling he ever had.
"Are there any questions?" Peter asked. When no one spoke, he smiled. "Good. Dismissed."
One by one, the prefects left the Head Boy and Girl's common room.
Hermione and Draco walked to the Great Hall for dinner. On the way they met Professor Dumbledore.
"Good evening, Draco, Hermione." He nodded to each of them in turn. "I trust that you have been well."
"Yes, Professor," Hermione answered. "May I ask why the Minister of Magic will be at the ball?"
"In truth, he is most concerned about Harry and Draco. The rumors about the night of the Halloween Ball have made the minister very curious. Now if you will excuse me, I must prepare for my announcement after dinner." Professor Dumbledore walked into the Great Hall.
Hermione and Draco waited at the door.
"Do you think the minister is still afraid that the professor might steal his job?"
"I don't know. I will use my father's connection to the minister to find out what I can."
Harry and Ron came down the steps to where Hermione and Draco were standing.
"Are we going to eat? I'm starved." Ron patted his stomach and looked longingly toward the table.
"You are always hungry, Ron," Hermione joked.
Ron turned three shades of red as he headed toward the Gryffindor table. Harry followed him, leaving the two alone again.
"Hermione, will you be my date for the ball?" Draco's ice-blue eyes glittered in the candlelight.
When Draco's pale hair fell in front of his eyes, Hermione wanted to brush it away. Despite her need to be friends—and only friends—with Draco, she still felt a small tug of desire. 'It's not safe. You could only do him harm," she thought.
"Is this your way out of trouble for the last ball when you asked for one dance and proceeded to keep me from dancing with anyone else?"
Draco grinned. "Please say you will go with me."
"I can't say that. It would be getting your hopes up. Besides, you have a job to do; you will have no time for me." Hermione walked away, allowing him to time to come up with a retort.
Hermione unrolled her edition of the Daily Prophet. Ron and Harry sat beside her tucking in as much of breakfast as they could.
"The way you two are keeping up, the poor house elves will never catch up on their cooking."
Ron glanced up worried. "You're not going to start with S.P.E.W. again are you?"
She shook her head and focused on the paper. "Look! It is exactly like Professor Dumbledore said." Hermione turned the newspaper around so the Gryffindor students could see.
In the moving picture, a giant was breaking one of the towers of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia.
"It says that a large band of giants, led by Golgomath, the same giant Hagrid—"
She was interrupted by a loud cough from Professor Dumbledore, who happened to be walking past.
Hermione lowered her voice. "They attacked late last night."
Ron swallowed the bite in his mouth before adding, "I would pay to see what kind of fit the minister's in."
The noise in the Great Hall grew until Professor Dumbledore stood up on the teacher's podium.
"Students, there is nothing to be concerned about. It has always been my policy to be honest with my students, so please do not take my words lightly. The witches and wizards in the area were evacuated and aurors have been called in. Most of the giants have been captured. The ministries across Europe and Asia have been working tirelessly to keep you safe.
"Please, report to your classes and try to practice control until further notice." Professor Dumbledore sat down while the other teachers got up.
A thought struck Harry and he leapt to his feet. Hermione and Ron followed him out of the Great Hall.
"Professor McGonagall can answer some questions," Harry explained.
"Professor!" Harry ran to catch up, Ron and Hermione close on his heels.
"What is it, Mr. Potter? You should be getting to class."
"We were wondering what you could tell us about this," Hermione said, unfurling the newspaper.
"I thought Hagrid would have told you everything you needed to know."
"Does the ministry realize Voldemort is behind this?"
"Minister Fudge will not make a statement either way."
Hermione turned to Harry and Ron. "Looks like another job for The Quibbler."
Professor McGonagall let out a sigh in irritation. "Do what you will, but can't you wait until after Fudge's visit? You should know how important the minister's support is to Albus. You will do well to keep out of the way until after the ball…There are only so many times you can mess up Harry." Professor McGonagall turned sharply on her heel and walked in the direction of her classroom.
"Wow," Ron mouthed. He gave Harry a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Harry cleared his throat. "Hermione, your idea is a good one. Talk to Rita and Luna and see what they think. I know we will get support after our last interview.
Hermione smiled, remembering the success their interview had been less than a year ago.
"Good. I will talk to Hagrid and see what he is willing to share. Even if we cannot use the full story, the public should know that Voldemort is behind this." Hermione bounced down the hall, lost in concentration.
Harry caught Ron's eye and they both laughed.
"Never happy unless she's busy."
They followed Hermione to their first class of the day.
"There Ginny, your hair is done." Hermione stepped back to look at her handy work in the mirror. "I sure hope that this impresses your guy."
Ginny smiled, but Hermione noticed that it was secretive. Ginny's eyes almost held a touch of sadness in them.
"Me too," Ginny finally answered.
Hermione turned back to her bed where her dress robes were lying. This time, she was wearing a light blue dress that reminded Hermione of a teardrop. It looked good with her complexion and it balanced her dark hair and eyes.
"I still liked the green robe better," Ginny said. She gave Hermione a small hug and headed for the door. "Don't be too late. We wouldn't want Draco to think you were skipping out on him."
Hermione picked up the closest pillow and tossed it toward the door, but Ginny had already escaped.
Hermione finished getting ready and walked down to the common room. Harry and Ron were playing a round of wizard's chess while Ginny took turns cheering each side on.
"There she is," Harry said, standing up. "Ready?"
Hermione nodded. She took Harry's outstretched arm. Ron offered his to Ginny and they left the common room. Draco and Pansy met them at the entrance to the Great Hall.
Draco walked to Hermione. "You can still be my date, you know." He flashed her one of his infamous grins.
"Anyways, let's just go in."
Hermione led the group into the Great Hall.
A group of students was singing Christmas carols around a piano. Minister Fudge was deep in conversation with Professor Dumbledore, but this did not stop him from noticing Harry.
While the others started to dance, Hermione sat down in one of the empty chairs near the refreshments table.
Someone tapped Harry on the shoulder halfway into the song. Harry turned around and saw Minister Fudge.
"Excuse me, Harry, but may I see you for a moment."
Harry nodded and followed the minister back to the podium.
"Now Harry, I have heard that you saw Voldemort again on Halloween night. This was not the first rumor that you have started. I would like to see an end to the rumors. You have been startling many witches and wizards. We cannot afford a panic."
Harry glanced worriedly at Professor Dumbledore and Hermione, but no one could come to his rescue. "Well, Minister, I have not started any rumors that contained lies."
"Then see that your friends do not either. I was displeased at your 'confession' in that sorry excuse for a paper called The Quibbler."
Harry gulped. There was no way out of this situation, and the minister would be even more furious when he found out that Harry was running another segment in The Quibbler in a matter of weeks.
Just then there came a crash. Hagrid opened both of the doors to the Great Hall.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir! You have ter come—to the Forbidden Forest!"