DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
As the days passed, the nightmares faded and mixed with all the other horrors Harry had seen and they became almost bearable. As the Council had hoped, the students never really seemed to actually believe that Harry had attacked Susan. However, they never believed that it was simply bad luck either. At least, not Susan's bad luck.
More than before, the students as a whole started avoiding Harry. They weren't afraid of Harry so much as they were wary of the aura of bad luck that seemed to follow him Instead of taking any chances, most of them decided that it would be best if they simply kept their distance. In that respect, the Council had failed miserably.
Harry tried not to let it bother him. He even tried to find the positive side of it. It meant that he had to deal with less people bothering him for minor help on all sorts of homework they had. If Hermione weren't near him, they'd still bother her, but the risk of being near him outweighed the desire to get slightly higher marks on their essays.
It was only two weeks before the I.C.W. was supposed to show up, and therefore just more than four weeks before the Ball. Other students were starting to make arrangements for dates, and many who'd already picked dates were busy ribbing those who had not. Harry was exempt from this, of course, though he had to deal with something much worse.
It seemed that the closer it got to the arrival of the I.C.W., the more irritable Ron and Hermione got around each other. It had gotten so bad that Harry would go out of his way to avoid them if they were near each other. Even the other students were beginning to avoid the two of them together as much as they avoided Harry.
Harry was sitting by the fire that night, quietly reading for the next day's Transfiguration lesson, when the portrait hole swung open quickly. Ron strode into the common room and took a seat in a chair by the table he often used for chess. Hermione walked in next and quickly walked across the room and took a seat at one of the windows. Finally, Ginny walked in the room with a disgusted look on her face. She looked around the common room, which was mostly deserted. Being satisfied, she went and sat by Harry.
"I know it's none of my business, but I swear those two are really tempting me," she whispered as she pretended to do her Transfiguration homework.
Harry looked up and gave her a smile. "What are you talking about? What isn't any of your business?" he asked innocently. Ron heard Harry talking, and looked over at the two of them. Harry returned to his book and whispered back, "I think everyone is hoping those two go to the Ball together. It would either stop the bickering, or at least save anyone else from having to be their dates."
"Oh, I'm not talking about the Ball," Ginny said bitterly. "I'd hex the two of them until they were unrecognizable if I didn't think it only fair to let you have the first go. How can you stand being around them so much?"
Harry burst out laughing. He hadn't laughed in a while and it felt good. It also attracted the looks of both Hermione and Ron. Ron looked away immediately. Hermione threw a warning look at Harry and Ginny and went back to her book.
"It's not always this bad," he said quietly, still laughing. "It's got to be the ball. They're both so stubborn."
"I don't know why." Ginny said with some agitation. "At least they have dates—or they would, if they would just get over themselves."
"You still don't have a date?" Harry asked lightly.
"No," Ginny replied slowly, "you seem to be scaring any potential dates off."
"Well, under normal circumstances, I'd be expected to do that." he whispered. "But how exactly am I doing it?"
"You're always around me, being protective— being yourself." she said with feigned annoyance.
"Yes, well, at least all the boys who don't ask you out can still walk." Harry said. His face was serious again.
Ginny frowned at him. "And they don't ask me because they're worried they might not be able to walk if they did..." She paused and looked away before continuing, "...and maybe they're right."
Harry tried to get her to look at him. "Why can't I go with you?"
"It's not because I'm afraid, Harry," she turned and whispered back to him. "This is no time to make it public."
"Some of the Gryffindors must have figured it out, and—"
"Some of them suspect." Ginny corrected him. "Only Hermione really knows. She hasn't even told Ron—"
"—Well, there's one row I'd like to avoid—" Harry interjected.
"—and most of the rest know you're hiding someone, but they think it's— Oh you'll hate this..." Ginny paused and gave Harry a piteous look. "They think it's Claire Goldwater."
Harry laughed again but kept it quieter. "Maybe I should take her, then?"
Judging by her expression, Ginny didn't approve of the joke, but Harry still noticed a smile in her eyes. "I don't know if McGonagall would allow that, Harry."
Harry was quiet again. "So how am I supposed to find a date?" he asked seriously. "Look what happened to Susan. What if I ask someone else and they really do say no?"
"Well, Susan was attacked to make it look like you were angry with her, but that could only work if no one knew she said yes. If you ask a girl with a lot of people watching, everyone will know that she said yes, and there's no reason for her to be attacked."
"What if she says no?"
"Just don't pick someone who'll turn you down." she replied simply. "There are loads of girls who'd love to be asked by you. Pick a Gryffindor, or someone from the D.A. Someone who trusts you."
"Ah," Harry said with a smile, "what about both?"
"Even better," Ginny responded happily, then looked suspicious. "Wait. Who did you have in mind, Harry? I don't know who—"
"Just watch. This is either amazingly clever, or the most shockingly horrible plan I've ever had." Harry whispered as he stood up.
"If you aren't sure, it's probably that second one," Ginny warned.
He slowly walked across the room with heavy steps, trying to get as much attention as he could. Everyone took note of him, except for the girl in front of him. Her face was buried still buried in a book.
"Hermione," Harry called out loud enough for everyone to hear, "would you go to the ball with me?"
Ron shot out of his chair as if it scalded him. He stared with enraged bewilderment at Harry, then to Ginny who was covering her mouth and attempting to keep her eyes from leaping out of her head. The rest of the students in the room had instantly dropped what they were doing to watch. Some of them were inching toward the stairs, afraid of what might happen if Ron Weasley and Harry Potter started dueling in the common room.
Hermione was taken so completely by surprise that for once she didn't what to say. Instead her mouth moved mostly soundlessly. "Harry, I— er—"
"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry asked kindly. "Has someone already asked you?"
There was a thud from the center of the room, followed by muffled laughs. Ginny had fallen off the couch.
"Yes!" Ron shouted much louder than necessary. "—I did." he said in a much more reasonable voice. "I asked her to the ball."
Suddenly Hermione's eyes lit up, as if she just remembered the right answer. "Yes!" she confirmed. "I mean— and I said yes!"
Harry had a smile on his face. "Oh well, I'm sure I'll find someone," he said with mock disappointment. He walked back to sit down on the couch which a smiling and red-faced Ginny was climbing back onto. As he passed Ron, he nodded to him. "Took you long enough, mate. We were hoping you'd ask her."
Ginny tried to catch her breath and Harry returned to his book. Ron and Hermione just stared at each other, looking shocked, a little confused, and rather embarrassed at the number of people watching them.
"Well, I think I'm going to turn in," Hermione announced. "Er— class tomorrow..." and trailed off as she quickly walked up the stairs.
"Hermione's right," Ron said. "We do have class. I think I'll go up as well." And with that he gathered his books and went to his dorm.
The rest of the students in the common room sat around quietly for a couple of moments. Then one by one they started whispering to each other. Most of them walked up the stairs to their dorms, eager to tell everyone else. Some however, were walking toward Harry and Ginny.
"Thanks, Harry," Seamus said as he dropped off a couple Chocolate Frogs.
A number of the younger students dropped off sweets as well, some just expressed their gratitude. Soon they were all gone, leaving Ginny and Harry alone.
"That was brilliant, Harry." Ginny said with a smile. "A bit of a gamble though. If she would have agreed, Ron would have strangled you in your sleep." Her eyes sparkled at him. "You still don't have a date, but if you have the courage to that, then you can find a girl to go to the ball with." She was still giggling. "Honestly, for a second I thought Ron was going to attack you with his chair. That was great."
"Thanks," Harry said, "but I still don't have a date."
"Just find someone," she said pushing him playfully. "It's just a Ball. It's not a marriage. Just find someone who won't annoy you all night long."
There was a sound from the stairs behind them and Harry turned to see what it was. When he heard nothing more he turned back to Ginny. "So if it's 'just a ball', why won't you go with me?"
"I've already told you why!" she said. Her voice was thick with frustration. "You're just going to have to accept it."
"Ron would think it's a good idea," Harry countered. "It's for your own safety, really."
"Nice try, Harry. Ron doesn't control my life." Ginny's voice had taken on a harsh tone, though her eyes were still smiling. "And I seriously doubt that you want to take me to the ball just to protect me, Harry Potter."
"Ginny Weasley," a voice called out from behind them, "would you do me the honor of attending the Ball with me?"
Neville was standing behind the couch and much closer to them than Harry would have guessed. His mind was racing, trying to think of what Neville might have heard. He needed to know. "Neville, I—"
"Yes, Neville," Ginny interrupted, "I think I'd enjoy that."
Neville smiled at Harry defiantly. Harry was even more confused now. He couldn't have heard much. He must not know about them.
"I think I'll turn in, now." Ginny said as she stood up. She turned to Neville. "Good night, Neville." Then she turned to Harry and gave him a playful, challenging look on her face. "Good night, Harry." She turned away from both of them walked to the stairs. When she got to the stairs, Neville turned and started walking to the portrait hole.
"Where are you off to, Neville?" Harry asked.
Neville looked back at him with a blank face. "Greenhouses. Extra work for Sprout. I've got written permission," he said as he opened the portrait hole, "—though it doesn't matter, since you're not a prefect in the first place."
Harry walked back up to his dorm. It had been an interesting and confusing night. He hoped he would sleep well.
The next morning Harry when Harry went down to the common room, he found Ron and Hermione sitting on the same couch that he and Ginny had been on the night before.
"Morning, Harry," Ron said.
"Ready for breakfast?" Hermione added.
"I figured I'd wait for Ginny, if that's alright." Harry responded.
"We'll meet you—"
"We'll wait with you, Harry." Hermione interrupted. Ron gave her a funny look. "Have you found yourself a date, yet?" she asked in a sweet voice. "Or have you been spending your time finding dates for everyone else?"
"No, I don't have a date." he returned, a little put off by her comment.
"Why not?" Ron asked. "Ginny doesn't have a date. She's been having some troubles, I hear. I bet she'd go with you. I mean, you don't want to end up with some third year, do you?" Harry had been right, but the suggestion also confirmed the fact that Ron almost certainly didn't know everything about him and Ginny.
"Sorry, Ron," Harry said, "Ginny's going with Neville."
"Really?" he said, surprised. "Since when?"
"Last night," Harry said as he adjusted his robes.
"Bad luck," he said. "See what happens when you wait too long."
"Be careful, Ron." Ginny said as she walked up to the trio, "or you'll be the next one in the Hospital Wing."
"That's not funny, Ginny," Harry said.
"Lighten up, Harry, or I won't help you find a date."
"That's less of a threat than you think," Harry remarked as he hefted his bag onto his shoulder. "Without a date, there would be two less people who have to be embarrassed by my dancing."
Ron shook his head. "Mate, you really should have learned not to procrastinate from me. Let's go."
Under her breath, Harry heard Hermione say, "The problem is that he has been learning from you."
They walked to the Great Hall and sat down together. Neville was nearby and he eyed Harry suspiciously while he told Lavender and Parvati about what happened in the common room. Everyone was laughing except Ron and Hermione, who were trying to act bored about it. Ginny was laughing and leaning on Harry for support. Neville scowled at him.
"What's up with Neville?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione shook her head and whispered back, "He's jealous, Harry."
"Why?"
"Because you're sitting and laughing with his date," she said.
Harry felt himself tense. "So? She's my—Ow!" Harry shouted as Ginny elbowed him. He gave her an annoyed look. "—er—She's my friend, too."
Ron looked at Harry and Ginny, then at Hermione. "You're going to explain to me what just happened, right?"
"Er— Tonight," Ginny said dismissively. "—Maybe tonight...We should go."
The day's classes went by without much incident. The only thing out of place were the people who would smile or nod to him as he passed between classes. Some were more discrete than others. Each time seemed to make Hermione just a little more annoyed.
As they entered the Transfiguration classroom, a Ravenclaw whispered "Thanks, Harry." Hermione let out a huff and walked to the front of the room. Harry and Ron followed her. As they sat down, she turned on Harry. "This better not go on much longer."
"Attention everyone!" Professor McGonagall called out. "Attention!"
The class settled in and looked to the front of the class. "Today we are going to have a special lesson. This is important both for your N.E.W.T.s and an invaluable skill for your everyday lives."
"Today we will be practicing repairing and mending magical objects. You should all be fairly proficient at the repair of standard objects, but the repair of magical objects is a subtle art that takes many students quite a while to master. This skill will also be quite useful to you in the coming year, especially those of you more prone to accidents." She glanced toward Neville who simply looked at his parchment.
"First off, a demonstration." She brought out a solid wooden box and set it on the desk in front of Harry. "Recently this was broken while one of the staff was looking through through our stock of magical items. It is an alarm of sorts. It is a simple bell which has been charmed to ring when intruders are present."
She opened the box and the room was filled with a high pitched ringing noise. It was not shrill, but it was very difficult to ignore. She pulled two pieces of what looked like a normal silvery bell from the box. It had been cracked in half.
"Now, Mr. Potter, I want you to concentrate very hard on the bell, and visualize it repaired and functioning properly. It will take more concentration than simply repairing a broken chair."
Harry looked at the bell, and tried to ignore the ringing. He concentrated on the image of it whole and quiet. Then he took his wand and pointed it at the pieces.
"Reparo!!"
The two pieces leaped together and with metallic snap, the bell stopped ringing. Harry studied it closely, then smiled. The spell seemed to work.
"Excellent work, Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall said with a smile. "Ten points to Gryffindor. The staff will be quite pleased you got them together. It was starting to be quite an annoyance." McGonagall was holding the bell, but looking at Ron and Hermione.
"Oh, honestly," Hermione said, exasperated. Ron just blushed and sank down in his seat.
"You should keep this bell, Mr. Potter," the professor said. I believe Professor Flitwick plans to have you place it in Gryffindor Tower. Now, I have magical items for all of you. Lets start practicing."
Hermione was uncommonly quiet on the way back to Gryffindor Tower after Transfiguration. She hadn't said much during class, either. Harry was worried that she was angry with him, but she didn't seem to be behaving like she did when she was angry.
Part of him wanted to know if she was upset, and another part told him that if she was, he wouldn't enjoy finding out. As they walked Harry tried to think of a way he could get her to talk, but not about class or the I.C.W. visit or anything that had happened that day.
"So, we're having the Council meeting tonight, aren't we?" he asked.
"Yes," Hermione answered tersely. Harry could tell by her voice that she was annoyed but not upset.
"Should Ron join us?"
"It'll probably be a boring meeting. The Aurors are going to handle everything," Hermione replied flatly, "and I don't see why he would really want to sit around for that. It's not like he's attached to either of us."
Harry winced. He was dangerously close to the very topic he was trying to avoid. "Alright. Are the Slytherins going to be able to make it?"
"You thought you were pretty clever, didn't you?" Hermione answered.
Harry didn't really know what to say, mostly due to his complete inability to see how the Slytherins' ability to sneak out had anything to do with him being clever.
"I... er... I guess?"
"You enjoyed your little match-making game last night, did you?"
Harry groaned. Why couldn't he have just shut up and waited for her to relax? His eyes darted over to Ron and saw the discomfort in his face. Ron dropped his head to stare at the floor as they walked. He wouldn't be getting much help from Ron.
"I was just trying to help..."
"Of course you were," Hermione laughed bitterly. "I saw you whispering to Ginny about it, Harry. And don't you find it a bit ironic that you put us together, when you still haven't even found yourself a date?"
"I didn't really do anything," Harry dodged. "Ron had already asked you."
Hermione stopped mid-stride and glared at Harry. "Honestly, Harry." She turned and jabbed her finger mercilessly into his chest. "If you believe that, then we're all doomed." Hermione turned and stalked off. Ron gave Harry a sympathetic shrug and they walked off after her.
"Look... I... I'm sorry—"
"No," Hermione replied sharply, "You're not. And I haven't figured out if I am either, but you could have picked someplace with less of an audience."
"I...I guess I hadn't put much thought into it. It just sort of came to me."
Hermione stopped in front of the Fat Lady and gave her the password. She held the portrait open as she turned to look at Harry.
"Ginny said she wanted to talk with us before the meeting tonight. I'll walk there with you. She said she'll meet us there." Hermione then turned and stepped into the Gryffindor common room, shutting the portrait firmly.
"I can't tell if she's angry with me or not," Harry commented as he and Ron stared at the portrait.
"She's not, really. You'd know if she was angry with you."
When Ron and Harry entered the common room, Hermione was nowhere to be seen. There wasn't all that much time until the evening meal, so they sat down to a game of chess in one of the quieter areas of the room. It was about an hour before Hermione came back down. She sat and calmly watched Harry slowly lose.
Harry didn't see Ginny until he got down to the Great Hall, where he found her sitting with Neville, Seamus, Colin and his brother. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat next to them, and started eating almost immediately.
When they had all finished eating (even Ron, who'd eaten most of the drumsticks in the vicinity), they sat back and relaxed a little. There was constant discussion of the upcoming visit by the I.C.W., and the Gryffindor table was no exception.
Students had already started leaving after finishing their meals, but Harry was surprised when Hermione stood up to leave. When Ron and Harry stood up to follow, she stopped them, saying that she just had some business to attend to. Harry and Ron took their seats again and watched as Hermione walked over to the Hufflepuff table and pulled Ernie and Hannah aside for some private conversation.
"I suppose I should go, too," Ginny announced as she stood up. She told them all that she had some errand she had to run before the meeting that night and that she'd see Harry soon. Once Hermione returned to the Gryffindor table, they all decided to leave.
Harry sat around, oddly impatient to find out what Ginny needed to talk to him and Hermione about. To pass the time he watched a group of first years playing Exploding Snap. Finally, Hermione walked over to him and nodded toward the door. Ron gave them a short wave of his hand to say goodbye and returned to whatever essay he was working on.
Hermione didn't say much on the way to the Room of Requirement. When they arrived they walked in and found someplace to sit. Hermione still hadn't said a thing and she had an expression similar to the one she'd worm as they walked back from Transfiguration earlier that day. Having learned his lesson, Harry kept quiet this time, and decided not to ask Hermione any questions.
He was forced to break his self-imposed ban some time later when Ginny still hadn't shown up.
"So...er... Where is Ginny?"
"I don't know," Hermione said with sincerity, "I don't think it's anything to worry about. She said she had something she had to do first. Maybe it's taking longer than she thought."
"Look..." Harry started, trying to gather his courage, "I really am sorry about how everyone is acting about... you know... you and Ron."
"Don't worry about it," she replied dismissively. "If you want to worry about something, it should be your date for the Ball. Perhaps you should try asking someone else."
Harry groaned. "And just how am I supposed to go about that? Hello there, the last girl I asked can't walk anymore so would you go to the ball with me, instead?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Well, I'd hope you could come up with something a little more encouraging than that."
"Last week, I had to ask Padma to help me with one of the salamanders Hagrid had us feeding. She thought I was going to ask her to the Ball and she ran off. It took me the rest of the class to convince her that I just wanted her to hold my glove."
"So she didn't want to—"
"It's got nothing to do with whether she wanted to or not," Harry interrupted. "She didn't want to answer at all. Half the school heard that Susan said she wouldn't go with me, and the other half heard that she said she would, but now she can't walk and everyone's worried that the other half might be right."
Hermione tried to argue that there were still plenty of girls who didn't think they'd be attacked, and Harry explained how he didn't really care to go looking for them. The debate went on for a few minutes, with Hermione trying to convince Harry to simply try.
"What should I say, then?" he asked her. "Is it impolite to mention that they might be risking their ability to stand?"
"You'd probably want to leave that out, yeah," Hermione said in an exasperated voice. "Have you even tried asking anyone else? And don't you dare count asking me!" Harry nodded, but said nothing. "Well, what did she say?"
"She...er... she didn't really say anything," Harry started, not wanting to tell Hermione anything more. Hermione obviously wasn't going to accept that answer so Harry continued. "She didn't really answer. She said I was being stupid and then told Neville she'd go with him."
Hermione smiled brightly for a moment, then regained control of her face and nodded. "I see. Well that doesn't really help us, does it?" She paced back and forth in front of Harry. "You didn't have any problem asking Ginny. So why don't we try something—" she glanced at the clock on the wall "—We have a little over five minutes before everyone else shows up. I'll help you practice."
Hermione waved her wand at the door, and it shimmered slightly. Then she stood with her back to the door, facing Harry. "Ask me to the ball," she told him.
"Er... Do you want to go to the ball?"
Hermione frowned. "You might try making it sound like you'd actually want to go with me."
"Well, I don't want to go with you, do I?"
"That's why you have to pretend that you do. You didn't have any problems asking Ginny, so pretend I'm her, and try again."
"No offense, but it's not that easy. It's still you. You're going to the Ball with my best mate."
"Right," Hermione said, nodding impatiently. "Let's start out a little easier." She convinced Harry to close his eyes and picture himself asking Ginny to the ball. After a couple tries and some encouragement from Hermione, it worked. Harry could see her in his head, looking up into his eyes smiling expectantly. It was the way he'd pictured it in the back of his mind the moment he'd read about the Ball. That was the way it should have gone. He would ask her, and she'd say yes. She'd look beautiful and they would spend the night talking and dancing and laughing.
"You've got it?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded silently. "Think of what you'd say to her, and then ask her —but don't use her name, you're just going to a Ball, it sounds too formal if you do."
Harry already knew what he would have said. It was supposed to be so much easier. It would have been easier. His mind ran through the words one last time. He took a deep breath and asked.
"I'd really like it if you'd go to the ball with me."
"I... Yes... Yes, I'll go with you," Harry heard in his head. Or was it.
Harry felt his heart attempt to jump out of his throat. That wasn't what Ginny was supposed to say. His eyes snapped open to a sight that made his heart stop altogether. Standing in front of him was Hannah Abbot, who, by herself, wasn't all that shocking. The frightening thing was the group of people standing behind her. It looked to be every last member of the D.A. Council, with the notable exception of Ginny.
Harry felt his face drain of all color. His head spun around searching for Hermione. He caught a shadow behind him, and twisted to look at it. Hermione was standing with her arms crossed over her chest, and the largest smile she'd had all day. She mockingly batted her eyelashes at him. Harry spun back around to look at Hannah.
"Look, Hannah, you don't have to—"
"No!" she exclaimed. "No, it sounds great! I didn't think it would be fair to go with anyone outside the D.A. You know, with all the watching we might have to do. But we can do it together! It'll be brilliant." She looked genuinely happy.
"But the thing is... I wasn't really—"
"What's going on?"
Harry leaned around Hannah to look at the doorway, which was still wide open to the corridor. In it, stood Ginny Weasley, looking cheerful and curious.
"Harry's found date to the ball," Daphne said with an odd smile.
"Took him long enough," Ginny replied as she closed the door. "Have I met her?"
"I'd say so," Ernie replied.
"Excellent. I'll need someone to talk to. I don't think Neville and I will be doing much dancing," she explained as she started setting up chairs around a table. "Who found out?"
"Me, I guess," Hannah answered with a laugh.
Ginny stopped and smiled at her. "Really? I figured he'd keep it a secret as long as possible. No offense, but how'd you find out?"
"Well, I walked in the door, and he asked me."
The smile fell off Ginny's face. "Oh," she said without emotion. She swallowed and looked at Harry. "I guess that's great... I mean... It'll make things easier... and... well, you two can have fun."
Everyone made similar, though less awkward comments as they made their way over to the table. Harry took a seat, hoping Ginny would sit next to him. Instead she took a seat a couple chairs away, and it was Hannah who sat next to him.
Ginny didn't look at him throughout the entire meeting. Harry wasn't really paying much attention, but he really didn't need to. Cho and Hermione seemed to be handling pretty much everything. After looking forward to the meeting for so long, now all he wanted was for it to end so he could get Ginny to talk to him, even if it would only be during the walk back to Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione was right. The meeting was boring, but it was also fairly short and without any disputes. After they finished they filed out of the room. Hannah smiled at him and wished him a good night. Harry tried to sound intelligent and polite as he wished her the same.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny walked silently back to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione said nothing at all, but had a faint smile on her face. Ginny seemed distracted, and a little sad. Harry didn't know what to say.
"Hermione tricked me into it," he finally said, though he knew that probably wasn't what Ginny wanted to hear.
"You should have expected her to do something like that," Ginny said. Despite Harry's worries, he didn't hear any anger in her voice. "And it was pretty clever, even if she had to use me as bait."
"Are you... are you okay with this?" Harry asked. A moment later, he wished he hadn't. If she wasn't then Harry didn't know what he could do to make the situation any better.
"I'm fine," Ginny said with a faint smile, "I really am. It's just... well... She didn't have to pick someone quite so pretty."
The next two weeks seemed to pass quickly. Perhaps it was because everyone was looking forward to the I.C.W. visit, and perhaps it was because it was the first period of time when Harry hadn't felt like there was something that needed to be finished or prevented or otherwise dealt with.
He had a date to the Ball, though he was beginning to wonder if she was taking it a bit more seriously than he was. Draco and his band of Slytherins had mostly kept to themselves, only occasionally speaking up to insult or ridicule him. Ron and Hermione had indeed calmed down quite a bit since their arrangement to go to the Ball together. Ron had spent a couple nights sitting on the couch and reading with Hermione, and Hermione had even tried (and failed spectacularly) to play a game of wizard chess against Ron. Even Advanced Potions had fallen into a pattern. Snape didn't take the time to needle Harry, and Harry focused on making the potions.
As the day of the I.C.W.'s arrival approached Harry had to try harder and harder to ignore his worries. After so many attacks, he knew they wouldn't just stop. Were the Death Eaters waiting for the I.C.W. to show up? Harry tried not to think about it. If someone was attacked while the I.C.W. was at Hogwarts, Dumbledore wouldn't be able to keep it quiet. If it was bad enough, they might even close the school.
Harry felt better only three days before they were supposed to arrive when a large group of Aurors showed up to help guard Hogwarts. Over the next few days, small groups of wizards (who were obviously not Aurors) also arrived and started walking around the castle and grounds. Harry and the rest of the students often caught them lurking in the oddest of places. Others said they were creepy and wished they'd never came, but Harry realized that they were almost certainly the personal guards of the I.C.W. members and he found himself interested in just what it might take to do their jobs. Most importantly, if they really needed a N.E.W.T. in Advanced Potions.
The night before the I.C.W. wizards were supposed to arrive, the castle became noticeably more busy. Even more Aurors had shown up, most of them there just to ensure the safe arrival of the Confederation wizards. There were rumors that the first members had already arrived, but that they were waiting in Hogsmeade. Hogwarts itself had closed and locked the front gates that afternoon so the Aurors could thoroughly search the castle and grounds.
The next day was a Friday, and after lunch, Harry, Ron and Hermione left for Herbology. Professor Sprout had successfully convinced Dumbledore and the Aurors not to force her to cancel class. All other classes, including Care of Magical Creatures, had been banned from being outside the castle. Hagrid was able to hold class in one of the courtyards, but Sprout needed to at least use a greenhouse.
As they walked out to Greenhouse Three, they all noticed the number of Aurors prowling the grounds. They were watching the students as much as watching for anything dangerous. The lesson was mostly uneventful considering the amount of activity outside. Crabbe hadn't shown up by time the class started, and ten minutes later he was hauled into the greenhouse by no less than four Aurors. Sprout ignored the interruption and seemed pleased with the lesson when it was over.
As they walked back, it seemed there were even more Aurors around. After looking and finding nothing, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the front door. At the door were a pack of Aurors and wizards in dark robes with deep hoods and odd gold trim. As the three of them approached the hooded wizards stiffened and stared at them.
"Oh relax, you lot," one of the Aurors called out. "They're just more students."
"And you recognize them?" one of the wizards asked with a thick accent Harry couldn't recognize.
"Blimey! That's Harry Potter," the Auror said. "Normally he's got three or four others with him, but that's him."
"Potter," the hooded wizard addressed him. "It would be best if you stepped inside."
Harry gave the wizard an odd look, but did as he suggested. The I.C.W. must be arriving, he thought. He stepped into the Entrance Hall and walked silently toward the staircase. There were at least ten Aurors in the Entrance Hall, and none of them looked like they'd let the three of them stick around to see what was happening. They followed the other students up the staircase and turned toward the Transfiguration classroom.
"Psst!"
Harry turned and saw Ginny poking her head around the corner behind them. She gestured for them to come over to her.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked reluctantly.
"Listening," Ginny said with mischievous grin. She held up a thin, translucent filament. At first it looked quite a bit like the thick spiderweb Harry remembered from the time he and Ron met Aragog. Ron seemed to agree and he backed away.
"Extendable Ears," Ginny said with an odd look at the two of them. "Made them behave a bit better and a bit harder to see using a trick I learned this summer. Quick, there are five of them and someone really important is coming."
Harry squinted and traced the filaments as the torch light glinted off them. He could see the small bundle turn the corner and head down the stairs. Ron was already slipping the end of one into his ear. Hermione was separating two of them. She took one for herself and handed the other to Harry. Harry took it and inserted one end into his ear. He sat down against the wall next to Ginny, and listened.
At first he couldn't hear much, but he slowly realized it was simply because not much was there to be heard. As he strained to pick anything out of the silence, he thought he heard muffled voices.
"They're talking outside," Ginny whispered. "The rest of them all came inside."
Suddenly there was a creak that Harry assumed to be the door opening, but there was still no talking. There was a number of footsteps as quite a few people walked into the Entrance Hall. Some of them sounded very close by, and as Harry heard echoes of them walking up the first few steps, Ron swore under his breath, and jerked the Extendable Ear from his own ear.
"At least there's an extra," he said as he reached for the only free Ear left. "I think someone stepped on that one." Harry's attention returned to the Extendable Ear as he started hearing voices.
"There's no one around," a voice said. It sounded like the same wizard who'd talked to Harry.
"Will you allow me to finish now?" a voice asked. Whoever had spoken was obviously not British, yet the accent was subtle and almost imperceptible.
"By all means."
The second voice was obviously Dumbledore. Harry glanced at his watch and tried to figure out how much time he could waste without being late for Transfiguration. It couldn't be much, but perhaps long enough to hear what the Confederation was here to discuss.
"You understand that we have considerable concerns with this course?"
"I do," Dumbledore answered, "and I will admit that I am not without concern, myself."
"And yet, you take these risks, without—"
"Every plan has risks, Najib. What other action would you suggest?"
"There are other things that could be done. Other things we might try."
Dumbledore sighed. "If there is a way of succeeding, it is this way."
"Do you still believe that, Albus?" the wizard asked in a curious tone. "There are many of us who think you have been fighting this battle for too long."
"—I believe I am one of them—"
"And yet your strategy has not changed. In fifteen years, nothing has been done to improve our situation, and now it is much worse. Alexandru is gone. You have lost your greatest ally, and many of your strongest supporters."
"And a new generation has taken their place," argued Dumbledore.
"And why should this generation have any more luck than the last? What hope do you have to offer beyond taking the same course we did sixteen years ago? What hope do we have that this course will bring any resolution in our lifetimes?"
"I cannot promise that hope," Dumbledore said in a low voice. "Yet this must be done. It must be the way, but it must happen in its own time, not ours."
"And perhaps ours will be a shorter time because of it."
"That is a price I would gladly pay."
"Yes. Perhaps I would as well, if I were assured of its success. Must this be the only action we take? Can nothing else be done or tried?"
"There may indeed be other things to be done," Dumbledore agreed, "and I am eager to hear what they might be."
"As am I, but first I would greatly appreciate it if you would calm some of my fears. Certainly there is someone we might speak to."
"Indeed," said Dumbledore as their voices faded. "I will see what can be done."
"Who has not arrived? And what of Alexandru's apprentice? Has he—"
Their voices were cut of by the sound of closing doors. Slowly Harry pulled out the Extendable Ear and stared at the others. They all seemed to be in shock. Harry took another look at his watch and jumped to his feet.
"We've got to go," he announced. "We'll be late and I don't fancy being escorted to class by Aurors." Ron and Hermione grabbed their bags and started following him. Ginny, however, didn't move and simply relaxed against the wall as if she was waiting for someone.
"Don't you have class, Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Care of Magical Creatures," she called out. "One of Hagrid's Diricrawls escaped and led a load of Aurors on a chase around the castle. He decided to cancel all his classes after that."
Without any more time to talk, the three sixth years had to run to make it to the Transfiguration classroom. The were all panting as they reached the door, and were not at all prepared for Professor McGonagall to be standing there waiting for them.
Hermione came to an abrupt halt, making Harry nearly knock her over. Ron lost his footing and slammed into both of them, sending all three sprawling onto the floor. As they untangled themselves, Professor McGonagall watched with a stern face.
"Well at least you actually tried to make it to class," she said sternly. "As luck would have it, you just missed the announcement that today's class has been canceled. I'm afraid I've been called away on urgent business. You're to write a foot and a half on the four Hardening Charms, and try to make it to class early next Tuesday."
The three of them nodded and walked off as soon as McGonagall had walked off down the hall. Most of the students were still gathering their things and stuffing them into their bags, but a few had seen them and were laughing and talking about it.
Instead of heading back to Gryffindor Tower, they walked off in the opposite direction. As soon as they were certain no one was around them, they began talking about what they'd heard.
"I've never heard anyone talk to Dumbledore like that," Ron said, "Fudge and Rita Skeeter said some pretty bad things, but never to his face like that."
Of course, Ron hadn't heard Voldemort talking to Dumbledore, but it was still a good point. Most people talked to Dumbledore with a strange sort of reverence. Few people even addressed him by his first name, and yet this wizard had done so almost trivially.
"I don't think it was like that. It didn't sound like they were angry at each other," Hermione remarked.
"More like good friends arguing," Harry said. Ron and Hermione didn't say anything, but both nodded. "Didn't sound very promising, though. It sounded like the I.C.W. doesn't trust him anymore."
"He's the greatest wizard in the world," Ron replied. "If they don't trust him, then maybe we shouldn't be trusting them."
Hermione disagreed and for a moment, Harry was afraid it was going to turn into the first argument they'd had since agreeing to go to the Ball together. Instead, they simply shrugged it off and started trying to figure out who Alexandru might have been. Harry decided to ignore it and join the conversation.
"Do you suppose Voldemort killed this Alexandru bloke?" Ron asked as they walked down a flight of stairs to the floor where they'd overheard the conversation with the Extendable Ears. "Sounded like he wasn't the only one. He said that Dumbledore lost his ally and a load of supporters, but it seems the Order is larger than it ever was."
"I think he was talking about Sirius and my parents and the rest of the Order from the last war," Harry explained. "Moody showed me a photo last year. It was taken before I was born and had most of the Order in it. Quite a few of them are dead now."
"That's what I figured, too," agreed Hermione. "So whoever Dumbledore was talking to was worried that his plan wasn't going to work."
"Well it didn't sound like he had any better ideas," Ron answered.
"I don't think it matters. It sounded serious. They might overrule him."
"And do what?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, Harry. I don't know any more about them than you do."
"They don't have any real power —at least, not the way the Ministry does," Ron explained as they walked down the final Hall between them and the stairs to the Entrance Hall. "It's not as if the Ministry has to do what the I.C.W. tells them to, but it's generally pretty daft to ignore them."
"Most of the wizards who're members are like Dumbledore though. They're all pretty powerful, and people pretty much do whatever they say, but whenever it's gotten really bad, they all turn to Dumbledore. If they're not listening to him now. then I'd say things aren't looking very good for any of us."
"Dumbledore sounded pretty certain he was doing the right thing."
"Right, and I'd bet every Galleon I had that he's right, but it's not going to be easy to convince them that the best way of stopping the most evil wizard of the century is sending Aurors to pubs and Quidditch matches."
They walked past the stairs, noticing a pair of Aurors standing on the the floor below and talking with a pair of maroon cloaked wizards. They turned the corner and found Ginny still sitting against the wall. Frowning, she held up two of the Extendable Ears.
"I'm down to three. I have to tell George that they don't handle being stepped on well." She shrugged and pulled the third out of her ear. "Not that it matters. I think they're all here now. Two more showed up after you left. I've been listening to the Aurors talking with the other guards."
"Did Dumbledore come out again?" Harry asked her. "Did he say anything more?"
"No," Ginny answered, "but did you know that Moody lost most of his hair after making fun of some witch in a bar?"
Author's Notes:
So there it is. This was about as much cheerful romance as you'll get from me. This is another semi-important chapter, not because of what is in it, but because it acts as another turning point. As I was writing, I decided there needed to be a somewhat cheerful chapter here, since it's going to start going downhill soon. So... buckle up, I guess. We're not at the big drop yet, but we can see the crest from here.