EDIT: Took out song lyrics (

Darkness and Light

Chapter 17

Midnight Moondrops - I know what you mean - look at my favorites list!

Angel of the white moon - A Lethifold (I misspelled it as 'Leithfold' on the other chapter sweatdrops) is a creature from Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them that is described as a shapeless black shadow that slithers around at night and swallows it's sleeping victims. But what were they doing in the morning, broad daylight...?

Mae - Cosmos will reappear...sometime. And for those other questions...you'll just have to wait 'n see. But yes, destiny is changing!

We did a project for our language class and we had to make a doll. I made a stuffed Harry! . He was so kawaii!

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Oddly enough, despite the mysterious attack, nothing had happened since. Cosmos had yet to return.

Hermione had asked Dumbledore about it that said he knew nothing, which obviously meant he DID know something.

But the Christmas ball was rapidly approaching and everyone was telling everyone else who they were going with and what they were wearing which was very much like last year.

"You can't really go with someone unless they pick you up," Ginny said smartly. "It's a masquerade ball; it's hard to tell who's who."

While almost everyone was crowding Madam Malkin's on the next Hogsmede weekend, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny didn't need to worry about that because Mrs. Weasly had purchased (sewn in Ginny and Ron's case) very nice suits and dresses for them, along with some masks. When Harry tried his on, Chibiusa commented that he looked like Tuxedo Kamen. They used their free time buying out the shops for presents and sipping on hot butterbeer. They took turns going to the counter to get the bottles, which is when the other three got out what they got for him or her.

"Hey Harry?" Ginny asked when Hermione had left and Harry got out the gold and silver bracelet he was going to give to her. "Who's that one for?" She pointed to the bag that the bracelet had come from. There was something else in there...but Harry didn't remember buying anything else. He pulled it out and opened the velvet case to find a silver chain with a simple sapphire charm in the shape of a moon at the end.

"I have no idea." He said. Spotting Hermione, he put the items of jewelry back into the bag.

(The night of the ball! My, I skip around a lot...just wait till chapter 23...)

Harry slipped on his silver mask and climbed down the spiral stairs. There were no girls downstairs, but just the Gryffindor boys. The girls were still upstairs getting ready.

"They said the ball starts at eight - it's seven forty-five now." Seamus said

"Might as well leave." Ron said.

"Wait!" Someone called. Ginny and Chibiusa came running (or as much as you can run in a dress) down the stairs. Ginny wore a simple purple dress, a matching purple mask in hand. Chibiusa's was much more extravagant, long and white (with a hint of pink) with many layers. Her mask was already on. It matched her dress quite well, but instead of strings holding the mask, long white ribbons took its place and was weaved into her hair. "If you're leaving for the great hall, we'll come with you."

(A few moments later...)

Everyone had arrived and most everyone chose a partner and began to dance. Harry did not, however, so he sat down on one of the chairs lined against the wall. He stared and watched people dancing. Draco was dancing with some short girl...who looked very much like Ginny...Hermione and Ron was no where to be seen...and-

Good evening, Harry.

Harry jumped a bit.

N-Neco?

I startled you, didn't I? Forgive me, please.

Er, yeah sure.

I see you're a bit lonesome because everyone's dancing except you.

Uh, not exactly... Harry thought. But how can you tell that I'm not dancing...how did you even know what I was doing?

Do you see that girl in the corner with red hair? That's Me.

Harry looked where she instructed. Neco had said at one point she was alone. But he couldn't see how.

Neco looked about his age with red hair; some falling a little lower than her ears, some shoulder length, and the rest was pulled in the back into a braid with an ornamental hair clip in the shape of an upside-down triangle. (It was golden with a purple center) Her dress seemed a bit medieval. (Okay, I'm going to explain this as best as I can, but I'm not good at this. I did a picture of it, so if anyone wants to see it, email me.) The collar was purple and lacy. From under the collar came out what was almost a cape-like material (red) Her sleeves were short and puffy with a purple lace around the edge and purple lace gloves. The body of the dress was a bit like a swimsuit. (Also red) Protruding from this was some more purple lace, then more red fabric for the skirt. Her mask hid her eyes. Her skin seemed smooth and...Well, enough descriptions. We shant make Harry ecchi.

Ahem...anyway, Harry slowly stood up and walked over to the person who had been haunting his mind. A new song began to play.

"Uh, Neco?" He said.

"Hello, Harry Potter. We finally meet." Her voice was a bit childish but very cute.

"Uh...yeah." For some odd reason he was having trouble talking to her. But he didn't seem to have trouble pouring out his soul to her in his mind.

"You said you weren't anywhere near here." Harry said.

"I wasn't but I gained intelligence that a ball was being held here, and as I have never been to one I decided to see what it was like. There was some business I had to attend here anyway so it was quite easy to gain entrance."

"Oh...uhh...do...do you..." Neco lowered her head and he could feel her quickly entering and exiting his mind.

"Yes, I would, Harry." Harry blinked. But before he knew it he was on the floor dancing with the redhead. They did this for a while, none of the students noticing the new person.

Suddenly, Neco fell to the ground bringing Harry with her.

"What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.

"It's..." She breathed. "It's nothing." Harry helped her up. She turned her head to look at the ceiling, bewitched to show the sky above. The twinkling stars were reflected in the eyepieces of her mask. She turned to him "Follow me. I want to show you something."

"Wha-" He looked at her and she smiled, then leading him out of the great hall and up the grand staircase and into the maze of Hogwarts.

"I thought you've never been here before," He said.

"I haven't." She agreed. "But I know of a place here, someone told me..." They climbed up to the seventh floor. Neco no looked confused. She walked one way, then back the way she came, and back again. "Oh, here..." She pushed open a door that resembled the time gate. Neco looked back at him and smiled. He followed her up a fleet of stairs and through another door. They were outside on the roof. Snow had fallen in a light layer. Neco walked over to the edge and sat down on the ledge after brushing it off. Harry joined her. There was silence. Silence was bad. Think, Harry thought to himself.

"I don't remember that door being there." He said.

"It wasn't." She said. "But I wanted it to be, and there it was." Harry didn't exactly understand but couldn't help smiling to himself as he looked at the pink spots on her cheeks from the cold.

"What is it?" She asked.

"N-nothing." Neco turned to him and took off his mask. He couldn't really see her now as the mask had a charm on it to repel the snow.

"I just wanted to see the real Harry Potter." She said. Automatically, he took off hers. She had brilliant, shining red eyes that could have been mistaken for stars.

The stars disappeared as Neco closed her eyes and leaned over to Harry. They were no longer cold.

Harry awoke the next morning in his four poster bed. How he had gotten there was beyond his knowledge - the last thing he remembered was kissing Neco on the roof. Wait...kissing Neco? Was that what had ran through his mind seconds ago? But wasn't he supposed to love Hermione eternally or something like that? And where was Hermione last night? In fact where was anyone? The only people he could remember...were Neco and himself.

But where was Neco?

He jumped out of bed and realized he was still in the suit. Harry found some other clothes and quickly threw them on. But he wasn't wearing his robes. Should he? It was hard to think.

'Okay,' he said to himself, 'Think slowly. It's Sunday. No classes. Yesterday was a ball. Neco really does have a human body...Thinks bad thoughts...'

He went downstairs to find Ginny asleep on the couch. As soon as he reached the bottom step, she woke up, frantically looking around as if she too had lost something.

"Oh...it's just you." She said. "I mean not like not I'm happy to see you...Oh, I mean not like I'm so happy to see you I'm swooning...I mean-"

"I know what you mean." Harry said. "What were you doing down here anyway?"

"Oh! I...er...well...last night my...er, my person that I was going with, we...er, we went into...his... house...he's in...a different house...and well...we...uh...talked and...we did this for a while...and it got quite late so I came back here and fell asleep...and...Yeah, that's it." She tried to look as innocent as possible, which made her look as guilty as possible. "So what's up?"

"Nothing," he said. Harry got up and opened the common room door to find... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (Don't you just hate waiting? . )... ... ... ... ... ... ... (I hate doing this to you. -.- )... ... ... (I think we all know who he's going to find, ne?)... ... ... ... ... ... ...

...Lavender! (Sorry!)

"Tooooo much wiiiine..." She slurred, going up to the girls dorms. Harry watched her hobble up the stairs then turned back to the open portrait to see...

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Sorry! I hate making you wait! But it makes the story better...right? Am I making assumptions? (EDIT PT. 2: I kinda was )

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