11. New Year Brings New Fear
The two friends rarely left each others company and Christmas was a lovely day, they had had a snowball fight and they enjoyed some hot chocolate infront of the fire. Hermione had gotten Harry some broom care refills for his kit and some contact lenses so he could see better during games and such. Harry on the other hand had not gotten Hermione anything practical at all.
FLASHBACK
The tree was glowing with many lights from different colored fairies and the star at the top was amazing. The whole common room was full with garlands and it just looked like Christmas.
"It's beautiful" Hermione had said 'Yeah' Harry silently agreed 'but not nearly as gorgous as you'
They had laughed as they devoured their pilles of gifts, deciding to keep each others for last. "Wow thanks Hermione!" Harry had said launching foward and pulling her into a tight hug. "It's great!" her eyes sparkled as he pulled out a box that was the size of his arm, She tore the paper off of it and pulled the lid off of it. "wow" she had wispered "it's so pretty" she pulled out a beautifull long stemmed pink rose and smelled it. "Thank you Harry" she gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Well i'm glad you like it but thats not all" he had answered.
"It's not?" she had asked "Oh but Harry this is more than enough" she said but the excitment was visible in her eyes.
"he pulled out another box and handed it to her, she again devored the golden paper and ruby red bow and peeked inside the box. There was a...book? The twinkle in her eyes dimmed slightly.
"Hermione pull it out I want you to see what it really is" she pulled it out fllowing Harry's request.
She opened the luxurious black cover and looked inside there was a letter that said on the enveloppe
To my dear Hermione Granger, you may not open this letter until after the war and you must seal this with your word. althought you may open the gift further.
yours,
Harry
She frowned slightly as Harry looked at her expectantly, she picked up the other paper that was really a card and read it. It was full of Happy wishes for the futur. She turned the page of her new book.
She gasped and smiled as she ran her fingers down the page. It was a picture of her and her two best friends at the burrow last time they were there and underneath was a written line obviously in Harry's best writing.
For all the times we've laughed
She turned the page and read the caption
for all the times we've cried It was a picture taken after Sirius died, picture Harry pushed some tears off his face and tried to smile. His face red and puffy. Both Hermiones smiled sadly through their own tears and picture Ron was blinking back tears but patting both his friends on the back.
She turned the page
for the good It was a picture of them in third year having just come back from the past. All members of the trio smiled and helped picture Ron to stand.
She turned the page
For the bad It was a picture of Harry troubled after the third task and both of his friends looking sadly at him.
She turned the page
For all the times we've shared It was a colage of many different pictures from the first year to the moments earlier this year.
She once again turned the page
For all the times to come The page was blank and so were the ones that followed.
She pulled Harry into a hug that lasted ages and was still too short.
END OF FLASHBACK
It was now the 30th of december and the train was due back any second. Harry waited frozen of the platform for his best mate to arrive. The next day was New Years Eve and rumours had it that Dumbledore was planning something, apparently a ball. Today was a Hogsmead day and The girls were planning on getting away from the guys to do some shopping. Harry was okay with that because he missed talking with Ron, about Quidditch and such.
There was a loud whistle coming from a few feet away and as Harry turned he saw the big red engine coming towards him and the other people on the platform. 'There it is' he thought hapilly 'finally!'
They all greeted each other with warmth and put their things in a carriage to be brought up to the school and they left to visit Hogsmead. They decided to meet up at the Three Broomsticks at two for a butterbeer. Harry and Ron walked the streets and looked at various shops and bought a few things finally when Ron mentionned that he had heard that their was going to be a ball they decided to go to a shop that sold robes to buy some new ones for the occasiong, they had after all grown. Harry had found some similar to the ones he had before and happily bought those. Ron who never had had the choice before chose some dark blue robes with a black suit for underneath it. the same color Harry's under suit was.
They found the girls in a corner of the same shop trying on some dress robes and when they greeted them they got shooed away by a very pushy Ginny.
"what was that all about?" Ron asked "They probably wanted some privacy for trying on some clothes." Harry said with a shrug.
At two they met the girls, who were in a much better mood, at a back table in the three broomsticks. They had a few butterbeers and then they all walked the streets together until it was time to return to the school.
Dinner was special that night. Dumbledore stood during the middle of it and welcomed everyone back. Everyone wispered things such as "He's finally going to tell us about tha ball".
Dumbledore cleared his throat "I wish to give you all some very important news. First thought I would like to correct the rumours going around. Hogwarts will not be hosting a New Years Ball but we will have a ball this year if conditions permit." he paused looking at his confused students.
"Other rumours have been going around in the Wizarding World as of late, rumours that could have disastroud effects. Students I would like to forewarn you that your hard work will be needed now above any other time, after hour classeswill begin for most of you and hard training will begin for all of you. Students, The war might be beginning in the next two months." He stood tal as he said this and looked down the table waiting for someone to say something.
"The teachers will be coming around with your new time tables for the next few months until the war really does start." McGonnagal had said as she stood up to encourage her long time friend. And many other teachers began talking to each other about different spells, potions, hexes and other tricks they could teach their students to help in the upcoming war.
The students meanwhile barely heard it, they were very quiet until a few people started crying and others followed suit, most students helped console their crying friends but the select few yelled about how unfair it was that the had most likely just spent their last Christmas with their whole family and how they would never be able to beat he-who-must-not-be-named.
The trio and certain D.A. members sat quietly staring ahead they were not shocked but maybe they should have thought about learning more painful of deadly spells. Harry could only hear one thought among the many swirling in his head. 'I can kill Bellatrix for what she did. I can end this all now' he looked towards Neville, the only other person he knew who could feel such rage and hatred towards that woman. He walked over to the spaced-out boy he shared his dormitory with and asked to speak with him in the hall. "Sure Harry" Neville answered. They walked out of the Great Hall quickly, passing by many people that were in different states of shock.
As they turned at the doors they walked a few more feet away and sat on the floor with their backs against the wall. "Neville I know it's none of my buisness but do you hate Bellatrix Lestrange for what she did to your parents?" Harry asked the boy next to him.
Harry felt Neville tense up at the mention of his parents but he relaxed a little and answered "I hate her more than you can imagine, every day of my life I've hated her. Why?"
"Because I think if we team up we can give her just what she deserves"
"You mean bloody torture until she bleeds slowly to death?" Neville asked darkly
"Yeah painfull slow torture."
"I'm in" Neville told Harry "What do I have to do?"
"Leave it up to me for now"
The next day these rumours were in the Prophet and the training began...inter house team work and duelling, powerful advanced spells charms hexes and potions were now being taught in class. The Daily Prophet was plastered with articles on this subject for the longest time.
New year brings New fear By: Chantal-j.t
Yesterday the world was taken by storm as many great powerful light wizards admitted to the rumours. The great wizarding war might begin in the next two months. For those wise witches and wizards who wish to brush up on a few dangerous spells please contact the department of defense in the ministry of Magic...
Harry had stopped reading there, he didn't need to know more.