A/N: Ohhhhh! I love this chapter! Thank you for the reviews, i do read them! As for reviewers, someone made a suggestion and description of a pre ball Hogsmeade trip, which is weird, as i already had a very similar idea. I've only written two more chapters after this one, so suggesions for future chapters will be read and taken into account. I love to hear your ideas. Anyways, enjoy this chapter, Angel.

Chapter 22- Beauty and Boggarts

Harry never made it to the Hospital Wing, as on his way over, he happened to pass Lupin down the corridor.

'What are you doing out of lessons, Harry?' Lupin asked, curiously.

'Professor Trelawny sent me to the Hospital Wing.' Harry revealed. 'Not that I'm sick of anything, she just jumps to conclusions. I get the impression that she thinks I have a brain tumor.'

Lupin laughed wisely, as he locked the door to his office, with his wand.

'Are you prepared for today's lesson?' Lupin asked, pocketing his wand. 'I hope you've had enough sleep, I'll be working you hard today.'

'I'm fine.' Harry said, honestly. 'Better than fine.'

'That's great to hear.' Lupin smiled. 'Now I must be going. I've got to pop to the library, before I have a meeting with a student.'

'See you later.' Harry said, as he headed in the opposite direction.

A minute or so of walking later, Harry passed Ginny down the very same corridor. She looked as beautiful as she had earlier on, with the addition of a smile. Harry wasn't sure how to speak to Ginny, since he'd asked her to the ball. She was his date, but also just his friend. Mind you, Harry was sure you weren't supposed to notice how beautiful your friends were, or what long legs they had.

As Ginny approached, Harry wondered if anything had changed. He was just thinking of what to say to her, when she spoke.

'Hi Harry.' Ginny smiled.

'Hello.' Harry replied. 'Bunking are we Ginevra?'

'No.' Ginny said simply. 'I have a place to be. You, on the other hand, appear to be bunking, if you ask me.'

'I'm hurt!' Harry said, with a hand on his heart. 'Hurt that you would assume that. If I was bunking, I wouldn't be doing it alone, would I?'

'Good point.' Ginny said, and rolled her eyes. 'So what calls you to the corridor I just happen to be walking down?'

'On my way to the hospital wing, to get my brain checked out.' Harry explained. 'Trelawney thinks I've lost it.'

'She's one to talk.' Ginny muttered.

'I know.' Harry said. 'But I'm under strict orders to have my head scanned. I'm mad and dangerous, so I'd watch it if I were you. Anger me, and I could turn on you at any moment.'

'Very funny.' Ginny smiled. 'I never thought I'd say this, but there's nothing wrong with your head. It's very nice.'

'I know.' Harry said, preening.

Ginny slapped Harry over the head, and Harry responded by tickling her sides.

'Hey.' Ginny giggled. 'Get off.'

'Say you're sorry.' Harry grinned, tickling Ginny, as she backed weakly into the wall.

'Never.' She replied dramatically, between laughs.

'Then face the consequences.' Harry roared, and threw Ginny over his shoulder, by her waist.

'Put me down!' Ginny exclaimed. 'My skirts going everywhere!'

Indeed it was. On Harry's left shoulder was Ginny Weasley's bottom, which was being covered by nothing but teddy bear knickers. They were baby pink, with childish frills, and had a pattern of smiling teddy bears.

'Oh my.' Harry said, with a chuckle. 'What's this? Teddy bear knickers? After all the rumors I hear about you wearing sexy underwear, I find that you wear Granny knickers!'

'Oh, shut up and put me down!' Ginny ordered.

'I think I might have to tell some people about this!' Harry laughed.

'No you won't.' Ginny said, sternly. 'You're going to not tell anyone, and put me down before all the blood rushes to my head.'

'First say you're sorry.' Harry said, childishly. 'And that I'm very handsome.'

'You're absolutely gorgeous, now put me down!' Ginny ordered.

Harry lifted a sulking Ginny down to the floor. She crossed her arms, and leant on the wall, with her bottom lip pouting out. Neither of them spoke for a moment, just stood eyeing each other out.

'You know, I think your teddy bear knickers are cute, really.' Harry said, as seriously as he could. Ginny couldn't keep a straight face any longer. 'But you do realize.' Harry continued. 'That from now on I'm going to have to check what underwear you're wearing every day, to make sure this doesn't happen again.'

'Oh, ok.' Ginny sighed, with a small smile

Harry watched the grin play across her lips for a moment, before realizing that he was staring. He then raised his eye line to look into Ginny's eyes, and found that she was staring into his. Her eyes were the deepest chocolate brown, and Harry found that he couldn't tear his eyes away from them.

'I'm really glad you asked me to the ball, Harry.' Ginny said, sincerely. 'I wasn't planning on going, until you asked.'

'Really?' Harry said, in a lower voice than he planned. 'Why?'

'Well, there wasn't anyone I really wanted to go with.' Ginny replied, and Harry could see deep emotion in her eyes. 'Boys always ask me just because of who I am, not because they like me. I didn't just want to go with some random boy.'

'I've asked you before.' Harry said, thinking back to previous conversations. 'Why'd you always say no?'

'I don't know.' Ginny said honestly, after a short pause. 'I wish I didn't.'

'What were you going to do on the night of the ball?' Harry asked. 'Stay in the common room alone, while everyone else was having fun?'

'No.' Ginny replied, in a small voice. 'I was going to help Professor Riddle with a few jobs. He said he was going to be busy that evening, and asked me if I would.'

'Why would he be busy on the night of the Christmas Ball?' Harry asked, edgily.

'I don't know.' Ginny replied, sounding a little uneasy. Harry put his hands on Ginny's upper arms, comfortingly.

'You know, if there's anything you want to tell me, I'm always here for you.' Harry said, in earnest.

'I know.' Ginny sighed. 'It's just difficult. If only you knew.'

Footsteps interrupted the pairs conversation, and Harry turned to find Lupin pacing down the corridor.

'I suggest you two go where you're meant to be.' Lupin warned. 'There's no wandering round the corridors, and you know that.'

Harry gave Ginny a sympathetic look, before letting her walk off in the opposite direction to himself.

Harry never made it to the Hospital Wing, but instead sat outside the Great Hall, waiting for the lunch bell to ring. When it did ring, he was the first one to enter, and sat himself right in the center of the table.

Soon he was surrounded by fellow Gryffindors, including the Marauders, Erin, Daisy and Hermione.

'I told him that I already had a date.' Erin rambled, sometime in the middle of lunch. 'He just wouldn't have it.'

'Justin is a pain.' Daisy said, pouring some pumpkin juice. 'But he should be able to get it. It's not rocket science.'

'What?' Ron asked, dumbly.

'Never mind.' Daisy said, rolling her eyes. 'You really ought to take muggle studies.'

'You sound like Hermione.' Ron grumbled.

'Talking of Hermione.' Erin said. 'Haven't you been out with Justin?'

'Have I?' Hermione asked, going red.

'Indeed.' Daisy replied. 'In your 4th year.'

'Oh yeah.' Hermione murmured, looking down at her plate.

'If you want, I could just hex him.' Dean said, casually. 'He'd be sure to leave you alone after that.'

'You are her date.' Seamus added. 'Which gives you the right to hex him.'

'Don't worry.' Erin grinned. 'He'll get it eventually.'

'Are you alright, mate?' Ron asked Harry. 'You seem rather quiet.'

'I'm fine.' Harry smiled. 'Just tired, with all that not going to lessons I've been doing.'

'Sounds about right.' Seamus grinned.

Towards the end of lunch, Harry, Ron and Hermione, were left alone.

'Not long till the Christmas holidays.' Harry said, with a distant smile.

'Yea.' Ron said. 'Should be nice. Seeing as I'm rich, I should be receiving some pretty nice gifts.'

'That's not all Christmas is about.' Hermione said, sternly. 'It's about being with the ones you love.'

'Well we're doing that too, aren't we?' Ron argued. 'You guys are coming over mine on Christmas eve.'

'And you two and Ginny came come over mine whenever you like.' Harry added, brightly. 'You can meet my parents, and see my house.'

Hermione smiled fondly at Harry.

'Of course.' She said, admiringly. 'Now Ron, what are you doing later?'

'Why'd you ask?' Ron said, unsurely.

'Because we still haven't seen your pensieve.' Hermione reminded Ron, who sighed. 'Did you think I'd forgotten?'

'Not really.' Ron moaned. 'Figured you were biding your time.'

'Great.' Hermione chirped. 'Then we'll check it out tonight.'

'Not tonight.' Ron said, quickly. 'I'm busy. How about tomorrow night?'

'Oh, ok.' Hermione agreed, as she rose from the table. 'Tomorrow night it is.'

Hermione tossed her rucksack over her shoulder, and exited the hall.

'What's so bad that you don't want Hermione see?' Harry asked Ron, curiously.

Ron just shook his head.

'What are you worried about?' Harry asked. 'I mean, how bad can it be? At the worst, it's memories of you are Hermione snogging.'

'It's not that.' Ron sighed. 'It's just that Hermione's going to get all weirded out.'

'You think so?' Harry asked, a little confused.

'It freaked me out for a while.' Ron added. 'Made me think, and you know that's never good.'

'Hmmm.' Harry mumbled.

'It changed the way I felt…' Ron stuttered.

'Made you see Hermione in a different light?' Harry asked, raising a cheeky eyebrow.

'Not like that!' Ron exclaimed. 'Just…you'll see. Wait till tomorrow evening.'

After lunch, Harry and Ron made their way to their next lesson: Defense against the Dark Arts. Although it was Harry's favorite subject, the fact that it was with his least favorite teacher, made it hard to enjoy the lesson.

The class ambled in, and found Snape standing in front of his desk holding a large box, smirking. It turned out that they were to be revising Boggarts, and Snape looked like Christmas had come early. Apparently, watching his class in total fear was one of Snape's favorite pastimes. He took delight in the petrified look on some of the students faces, as he explained the task.

Snape seemed to take the weakest students first, few of who could resist the Boggart. He simply cackled as Lavender Brown shriveled into the floor, crying, halfway through the lesson.

'Get up, Miss Brown.' Snape sneered in disgust. 'You now Mr Weasley. This should be interesting.'

Ron walked forward to the front of the class, and was not confronted with what he was expecting to see. There, standing right in front of him, was Hermione.

'Ron.' Said the Boggart Hermione, in a crackly voice. 'Ron, I'm dying. You've got to help me.'

Tears ran down her soft pale cheeks, as she cradled her stomach. A stomach which was covered in blood.

Ron stood transfixed for a moment, his eyes wide and worried.

'Riddikulus!' Ron called, as strongly as he could.

The Boggart now changed form, and Ron found Harry standing before him.

'Ron.' Harry croacked, with his hands round his bleeding neck. 'Please Mate, you've got to run, before it's too late. Don't worry about me.'

'R-Riddikulus!' Ron shouted louder.

The Boggart changed again, the time to the form of Ginny.

'Help me.' Ginny sobbed. 'Please, get some help.'

Ginny then placed her hands over her mouth, and began to cough. When she moved her hands away, they were covered in blood.

'Make it stop Ron.' Ginny pleaded. 'Please, make it stop.'

'R-Riddikulas!' Ron stammered, once more.

Hermione appeared again, and the whole class gasped. She stood in the center of the classroom, looking horrifically worse than before. Her whole body was covered with deep dirty scars. Her clothes were slashed, wet, and covered with dirt. Her hair sat in muddy clumps, above the gash which covered her forehead. Blood dripped down between her tired dull eyes, and down her pale white face.

'Ron.' She whispered, though her lips barely moved. 'I got away. I finally got away.'

She took a staggering step towards Ron, who stood frozen to the floor.

'I didn't think I'd make it.' She whispered again, as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Ron, I'm dying. They took me, and they hurt me, and now it's too late. I'm sorry, Ron. It's too late.'

Ron stood still, watching Hermione sob chilling tears down her cheeks. Harry thought he was about to break, when he raised his wand again.

'Riddikulus!' Ron shouted strongly, through the silence.

Hermione changed. Her clothes repaired themselves, and her hair became neat and clean. Her scars melted away, and she stood there, smiling at him.

'Hey.' She said simply, and Ron stepped away.

'Close friends and family dying?' Snape sneered. 'All the spiders lost their legs?'

Ron walked away without a word, his face pale beneath his powdered freckles, as Snape called up his next victim.

Ron wiped his face with the sleeve of his robes, and looked despondently ahead of him. Ron looked more shaken then Harry had seen in a long time, which gave him an aching pain in the pit of his stomach.

Hermione tapped him sadly on the shoulder, and Ron turned round to be enveloped in a comforting hug.

'Miss Granger.' Snape scorned. 'If you can detangle yourself from Mr Weasley for a few minutes, perhaps you can join in the lesson, like the rest of the class.'

Hermione looked calmly at Snape, who rolled his eyes in dislike at her.

'Go.' He said simply, pointing to the front of the room.

As Hermione reached the pile of bandages, which was once a mummy, it changed into something so simple, yet meaningful.

Sitting at Hermione's feet, was a gravestone. It looked rather plain, and the surrounding class barely battered an eyelid.

Hermione stood as still as a statue, her hands pulled into shaking fists, tears threatening to escape. She let out a small sob, as her breathing became harsh.

The class couldn't understand what was so wrong, and it seemed that neither could Snape.

'Get on with it.' He drawled, crossing his arms.

Hermione just stood still, her face cold with fear. Slowly, everyone began to creep closer to Hermione, until they could read the contents of the gravestone:

Hermione Jane Granger ????-????

In memory of her hard work and how she lived her life to the fullest. May she rest in peace, as the war continues.

'Hermione.' Ron whispered, and she broke out of her trance.

'Riddikulus.' Hermione murmured lamely, yet it was enough to make the gravestone crumble to the ground.

'Afraid of death, are we Miss Granger?' Snape taunted, with a smirk. 'Afraid that you might not have lived life to the fullest? Or do you have things left unsaid?'

Hermione ignored Snape, and hid at the back of the classroom.

'The gits right.' Hermione sighed, when Ron and Harry joined her. 'I haven't lived my life. And what would happen if I died before the war had ended? I wouldn't be there to help.'

Snape made his way through the rest of the class, until only Harry remained. He had a sinking feeling that Snape was going to do that. He wouldn't be worried, except that he had no idea what to expect.

'Mr Potter.' Snape smirked. 'Lets see what you're most afraid of. Is it loosing your love life, or your head growing so big that it doesn't fit out of the door?'

A few people sniggered, but quickly turned their laughs into coughs.

Harry wandered purposefully to the front of the class, and waited.

Before him, floating in midair, was a crystal ball. It very much resembled the one Trelawney kept on her desk, and Harry wondered for a moment what there was to be afraid of.

As he stared into it's foggy depths, shadows filled the glass orb. Shadows of fires, deaths, crumbling buildings. Shadows of people fighting for their lives. Shadows of the dark mark. Harry could almost hear the screams.

If he'd cared to look round, he would have seen the look of confusion on the other students faces. They couldn't see what he did, and he knew it. Harry didn't take his eyes off of the orb, though, even when he raised his wand.

'Riddikulus.' Harry stated, and the orb dropped to the floor and smashed.

'Interesting.' Snape said, without his usual spitefulness. 'What Mr Potter fears, more than anything, is the future.' The bell rang. 'Class dismissed.'