Chapter Forty-Three: The Announcement

As Harry returned to the common room, he noticed that a number of girls were giggling as he past. Harry finally found Ron, who was wearing a smug grin, in their dormitory.

"Tough luck, mate," said Ron

"What's going on?" asked Harry.

"One of your favorite events is coming up soon, some time in the spring," said Ron.

"Not-" started Harry.

"That's right, a ball is gracing the halls of Hogwarts," chuckled Ron, "They posted signs in the common room."

"Would that be the reason why every single girl giggled when I past them?" asked Harry.

"Probably," said Ron.

"What happened to every one knowing what happened in this very room a week a go?" asked Harry.

"I'm not sure," said Ron, "Hermione mentioned that she was working on her memory charms so that she could make the whole house forget about it. Turns out that that charm she cast was of a lower variety. I guess she managed to follow through."

"I would rather take on Voldemort than go through another Yule Ball," muttered Harry.

"You won't have to worry about that," said a voice from behind Harry, "They're calling the ridiculous thing a Spring Fling."

Harry turned around and saw Katie standing in the doorway.

"You were right, Ron," said Katie, "Hermione did cast a memory charm on the entire house."

"Figures," muttered Ron.

"I take it that you aren't a large fan of balls, either?" asked Harry.

"Not really, I get nervous bumbling around in front of a large crowd," said Katie.

Ron started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" asked Katie.

"Harry has the same problem," said Ron, who was still chuckling.

"So have you asked her yet?" asked Harry as he tried to change the subject.

"Who?" asked Ron, "What're you talking about?"

"Have you asked Hermione to the ball," reiterated Harry.

"Oh, not yet," said Ron, "I haven't seen her since I saw the sign. Before I could even try, she was dragged off by Parvati and Lavender. What about you, who are you taking?"

"You git, who do you think I'm taking?" asked Harry, "That is, if we go. Would you care to go to the Spring Fling with me, Katie?"

"I'll think about it," said Katie, causing Harry's eyes to widen in shock and Ron's mouth to drop in disbelief, "I'm kidding. I would love to go with you."

Just then, the door burst open and Hermione walked in followed by Parvati and Lavender.

"Hey," said Harry.

Hermione marched up to Ron.

"Are you going to wait until the last minute like two years ago?" asked Hermione bluntly.

"I don't think that he has any intentions of that," said Harry quietly, causing Parvati and Lavender to giggle.

Ron began to open and close his mouth stupidly, clearly unable to articulate the desired words. Remembering the spell that Nott had used earlier, Harry pulled out his wand.

"Dominear Crusindo," muttered Harry inaudibly.

Harry was close enough to Ron as the spell was fired that no one saw it. Ron stiffened and stood straight.

Tell her how you feel… She wants to know thought Harry.

"Hermione, I love you and I would be honored if you would accompany me to the ball," said Ron rather tenderly.

Harry immediately ended the spell. Ron's shoulders drooped slightly and he blinked numerously. Hermione gasped and tears welled up in her eyes. She launched herself forward and hugged Ron firmly.

"Oh, Ron! I love you too," cried Hermione happily as Ron patted her back awkwardly, "I would love to go to the ball with you."

Ron gave Harry a questioning look. Harry shrugged and went over to his trunk, looking for something to try and change the subject. Just as he was opening the trunk to go into the library, Parvati piped up.

"Harry, should we make a repeat of our forth year?" asked Parvati hopefully.

Harry was taken aback and chanced a quick glance at Katie, only to find that she was no longer in the room.

'Ah, no, this won't end well.'

"Er- no thanks, Parvati," said Harry, "I'm not sure if I'm going just yet."

Parvati looked heartbroken and Lavender was shooting glares at Harry. Parvati turned and ran out of the dormitory, followed closely by Lavender.

"Smooth, mate," said Ron.

"Oh, Harry," said Hermione exasperatedly.

"I'm telling you, you have to right a book on girls for guys," said Ron, "You'd make a fortune."

Hermione chuckled before placing a kiss on Ron's cheek and leaving.

"Would you mind filling me in on what happened?" asked Ron, "The last thing that I remember is trying to ask Hermione to go with me and then she's jumping on me."

"I er- sort of cast a control spell on you," said Harry, "It was rather weak but you really needed it. You looked like a fish out of water."

"You did what?" asked Ron incredulously.

"That's right, I put a control curse on my best friend," said Harry in vexation.

"I guess it worked," said Ron, "What did I tell her?"

"I only told you to tell her how you felt," said Harry sheepishly, "You kind of told her that you… loved her."

"I said WHAT!" asked Ron loudly.

"Yeah," muttered Harry, "If it makes you feel any better, she returned the gesture. At least you won't have to wonder now."

"I guess I owe you one," said Ron, "I would never have been able to tell Hermione that. I was too afraid that she would get hysterical at the idea."

"No problem, mate," said Harry as he clapped his friend on the back.

"What were you looking for in your trunk?" asked Ron.

"Nothing, really, I just didn't feel comfortable being in the middle of that particular conversation," said Harry.

"Where did you learn that curse anyway?" asked Ron as he plopped onto his bed.

"Nott used it to try and control me when I saved Snape, remember?" asked Harry.

"Oh, yeah," said Ron in reminiscence, "That was weird, the way you reacted when Snape got blasted through the door."

"What did you expect me to do, watch helplessly?" asked Harry.

"No, I just didn't expect you to rush to Snape's side," said Ron.

"Let's change the subject," said Harry.

"All right," mumbled Ron, "What happened to Katie?"

"I don't know, I never saw her leave," said Harry as he sat on his bed.

Before either could say another word, Katie appeared five feet in the air, flailing wildly, and fell painfully onto her side. Her arm seemed to be bent behind her back and her hands were nearly touching. Her lower legs were pinned beneath her thighs. Harry and Ron jumped off their beds and ran to her side.

"What happened?" asked Harry.

"I had a little talk with the Monk," groaned Katie as she sat up, "He performed the test."

Ron gave Harry a questioning look, which Harry brushed off.

"Are you hurt?" asked Harry.

"I'll live," said Katie.

"Ron, could you give us a minute?" asked Harry.

"Sure, I'll be in the common room," said Ron.

As soon as Ron left, Harry turned his attention back to Katie.

"Well?" asked Harry, "How did it go?"

"It was… weird," said Katie.

"How so?" asked Harry.

"First, tell me what happened during your test," said Katie.

Harry told her about his scores and abilities.

"That's what makes it weird," said Katie, "While you got numbers on your assessments, I got question marks, like they couldn't determine the answer."

"That is weird," said Harry, "What about your abilities?"

"It said I only had one: Phoegan Queen," said Katie.

Harry's eyes widened.

"There was nothing else?" asked Harry, "Nothing about Parseltongue?"

"No, nothing," said Katie, "Why?"

"The very first ability on my list was my being a Phoegan Lord," said Harry.

Understanding dawned on Katie's face.

"What does this mean?" asked Katie.

"Did the Monk give you a book?" asked Harry as he walked over to his trunk.

Seconds later, Harry emerged with his book that he received from the Monk.

"A book that looks like this?" asked Harry.

"No," said Katie, "As soon as he showed me the results, he sent me back here."

Harry ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"This doesn't make any sense," said Harry, "The only information on Phoegan Lords comes from an ancient legend but it never mentioned a Phoegan Queen."

"What do you mean 'a' Phoegan Queen?" asked Katie, "Surely there has to be more that one."

"That would be less than likely," said Harry as he opened up the book, "According to the information I received from the Monk, there has never been a recording of a Phoegan Lord. So, it's less than likely that a Phoegan Queen have been born before them."

"Do you think that this could be because of our relationship?" asked Katie.

"No, I think that this caused our relationship," said Harry, "Do you remember my question from a couple weeks ago? When I asked you why you decided to talk to me?"

"Yeah…" said Katie.

"We both felt an inexplicable attraction to each other," said Harry, "Maybe… this has something to do with it. This could be the cause of the attraction."

"That sounds logical," said Katie.

"I just wish I knew why fate seems to make everything happen to us," said Harry as he tossed the book into his still open trunk.

"You will probably never know," said a familiar voice.

A figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Monk himself," said Harry sarcastically.

"Indeed," said the Monk, "I believe I may have an explanation to your results."

Katie's head seemed to stretch closer in an effect to hear everything the Monk had to say.

"I have found the lost legend of the Phoegan Queens," said the Monk as he pulled a piece of parchment out of his robes, "This is an interpretation, much like the one I gave the pupil."

Katie stood up and took the parchment from the Monk. She sat next to Harry and they both read the legend.

The power a Phoegan Queen possesses is unknown. According to legend, the Phoegan Queen receives her power from her Phoegan Lord. How a Phoegan Queen is selected is unknown. The Phoegan Lord and Queen will feel an unexplainable attraction, one that cannot be denied or ignored. Like the Phoegan Lord, a Phoegan Queen can only be killed and ages as slowly as the Phoegan Lord.

"That explains…little," said Harry as he finished reading.

"You have a point," said Katie, "The only thing it explains is the reason why I had no results. It's because I gain my power from you."

"There is very limited information on these subjects," said the Monk, "For now, I cannot explain any specifics with you. You will understand in time…"

The Monk faded away, leaving Katie and Harry sitting, both very confused.

A/N: Hey Everyone. Sorry I've been gone for so long. I was working on other things but now I'm back. I will be updated rather consistently, hopefully. Until Sunday at 9:00 p.m., I will be taking votes. These votes will determine what happens in the next chapter. Either another Quidditch match or straight to the Ball. If you don't choose a Quidditch match, there will be another one sometime after it. If you do choose a Quidditch match, the Ball will be the chapter after and I'll have a grand total of three chapters involving Quidditch games, meaning that I will write out all three games. See ya later.