Chapter 13 – The Meeting in Hogsmeade

Darren could not quite believe what he had just heard. Cho had just whispered in his ear that she wanted him, tonight. Did that mean that she wanted what he thought it meant? Not that he didn't want it, nor was he scared of what she wanted. No, he was more shocked that she would be so bold about it. He decided to try to play it cool and let her be exactly clear with what she was referring to, although he was perfectly certain what it was.

Darren just smiled at her and said playfully, "You want what Cho?"

She just smiled at him and he could see a hint of a blush in her cheeks.

"Don't make me explain it to you Darren, or should I?"

"Explain what Cho? What is it that I have that you could possibly want tonight?"

She was almost laughing now that she had caught on to the fact that he was teasing her.

"Your body Darren. I want you to make love to me, fuck me, have sex with me tonight. Is that clear enough for you?" He was almost blushing now. She was no longer teasing, she was telling, demanding that he be with her. How could he say no to her?

"Well, I guess that could be arranged, if you have a good idea of where we could go so as not to get caught."

"Caught? Who would catch us Darren?"

"Well, Professor Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, or even worse, Peeves for starters."

"Yes, that would be bad. However, I have the perfect place in mind."

"Where?"

She reached in her gown and took out a small envelope. Cho put it in the breastplate of his armor and told him to read it and to meet her exactly where the note said, and at the appointed time. Darren let her pull her hand back before taking it in his own. His feelings were beginning to get very cloudy at the moment. Was she using him, was she feeling genuine feelings for him, or was it something else? Whatever it is, he would find out later tonight, that was for sure.

They continued to dance and have fun for the next hour, until the last person Darren wanted to see began to cross the dance floor and take his place next to him and Cho. It was Malfoy, and his costume did not shock Darren in the least. He was dressed as Adolf Hitler. With were, as usual, Pansy Parkinson as what could only be Eve Braun, and Crabbe and Goyle as Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Goering. But what really upset Darren the most was seeing, of all people, Blaise trailing behind them and to see him dressed as Josef Goebbels.

Malfoy sneered at Darren, making Darren have to physically restrain himself from hitting the little bastard. It was well known around school that Draco Malfoy hated Muggles and half-bloods, but he hated Muggle born witches and wizards even more. But to dress as someone that had tried to exterminate entire races of people was low even for a Malfoy. Cho had pulled herself closer to Darren. He could not tell if it was from a bit of fear of Malfoy, or to keep Darren restrained and in check. It was also well known around Hogwarts that Malfoy and Potter hated each other, but it was only starting to come out to the rest of the students that Darren and Draco's mutual enmity was almost on par with that of Harry and Draco. Whenever Darren thought of a Malfoy, he had the thought that he did not care whether he lived or died, literally. The Malfoys were scum, and Draco's costume just did more to prove it to Darren.

"Nice costume Clarkson," Darren heard Draco call out over the music. "Too bad they didn't have a Nero costume. At least he did something good."

Darren was eyeing Draco, thinking of just going ahead and hitting him no matter if the teachers were present or not.

"Just ignore him Darren, for me," Cho said quietly in his ear. "I don't want you to get into trouble just because Draco Malfoy is being a complete asshole."

Darren looked in her eyes and could not help but smile at her. She was right. Why let Draco ruin the entire night? It would be better to just walk away and go on with the evening rather than be drawn into an argument, or worse, a fight, which is just what Draco would love to provoke. Cho just took Darren's hand and led him off the dance floor. They found Neville and Marietta sitting alone at a large round table and joined them. Neville looked as if he was about to have a massive coronary at the thought of spending any more time alone with Marietta, and Marietta did not look like she was having the best time of her life either, for that matter.

"So, how are you two getting along?" Cho asked innocently.

Marietta rolled her eyes in what could only be disgust, and Neville just looked straight down at the floor. Darren and Cho looked at each other with concern on their faces. Neither had expected Neville and Marietta to hit it off, but neither had expected the night to be going so badly either.

"Well, why don't you two go dance or something? It is fun," Cho told them.

Marietta snorted in derision at the suggestion.

"I already tried to get him to dance, but he doesn't want to, so forget it," she replied in a huff.

"Come on Neville, dance with her," Darren admonished, but it looked as if it would have no effect on him.

"I'm going to the ladies room," Marietta announced.

"I'll go with you," Cho told her. As Cho got up to leave she gave Darren a small win that he took to mean that she would do her best to cheer Marietta up and to try to salvage the night for them. After they were out of ear shot Darren rounded on Neville.

"Neville, what is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" he replied innocently.

Darren could not help but let out a huge sigh that had to have let Neville know how tired he was of the act that Neville was putting on tonight. Darren knew perfectly that Neville had it in him to have a good time, if he would only just let it happen.

"Darren, I'm too nervous to dance with her, besides, everybody is looking at me because I am here with her."

Darren looked around and saw that not one student was looking at Neville, or at him for that matter.

"Neville, not one person is looking at you. You are just too damn scared of everything to let yourself have a good time."

Neville looked as if he was about to respond but instead just let his head drop in what could only be acknowledgement that Darren was correct. Darren could see the girls coming back over Neville's shoulder and he decided to try one last thing.

"Neville, I am going to dance with Cho now, so you can either sit here like a log, or, you can get up and have some damned fun. Your choice Neville."

With that he stood up and took Cho's arm before she could sit back down and led her back to the dance floor.

"Darren, I wanted to sit for a little bit," she told him.

"Wait Cho, I want to see if it works on Neville."

"See if what works?"

But Darren didn't need to answer. He saw Neville talking to Marietta and then he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Darren gave Neville a small nod and a smile as he moved over on the dance floor to make room for them and then he turned his attention back to Cho.

"What did you say Darren?" Cho asked him.

"I just told him the truth, that's all."

Cho smiled at him and turned with Darren to watch Neville dance with her best friend. After a few minutes the inevitable happened. Neville stepped right on Marietta's foot making her jump back in shock and pain. Darren and Cho could not help but laugh at the accident because secretly they both had expected it to happen much sooner than it had. Marietta looked at Cho and Darren was happy to see that she was actually smiling now. Apparently she was having a good time now, and that made Darren happy for his friend.

His happiness lasted for about five more minutes until he felt a hard bump on his back and felt Cho jump back suddenly. Darren could see a large red stain on her gown and laughing behind him. He turned quickly to see Draco and his cronies standing there, laughing stupidly as usual. Pansy Parkinson was holding an empty goblet that was dripping red punch and it became immediately apparent that she had spilled it on Cho accidentally on purpose. Pansy looked as if she was beside herself with glee at having ruined Cho's costume and Draco had that same look of superiority he always wore. It reminded Darren of a pig the way his nose was upturned all the time.

"What the hell do you think you are doing Malfoy?" Darren screamed.

"Moi? I didn't do anything Clarkson. It wasn't me that spilled punch on that whore you call a girlfriend."

With that Darren could feel his blood rising inside of him. He took a step towards Draco, intent on doing physical harm and not caring who saw it or what punishment he may receive for his actions. But he felt a hand take his arm and gently pull him back. He yanked his arm away and continued towards Draco who had a look on his face that told the gathering crowd that he was not so certain now that he had decided to pick on the right person that night. Darren made to take out his sword, which was really made of steel and whack Draco right across the head with it. Crabbe and Goyle took their positions in front of Draco, but they had never intimidated Darren before, and tonight was no different.

"Move or I will hurt the two of you," he said to them.

They looked at each other as if in disbelief that they had just been threatened. Usually they were the ones that threatened the students and now it was apparent that they had crossed a line and were nowhere close to getting back across it.

"Crabbe, Goyle! Don't you let him by you! Keep him away from Pansy," Draco said, but the crowd around them knew very well he was talking about himself.

But Crabbe and Goyle moved out of the way and Darren was face to face with Draco Malfoy. At last he had a Malfoy in his reach and he was determined to do as much damage as he could before the teachers stopped him. As he reached out to grab Draco's lapel he felt the hand again and this time it made him stop. It made him stop because it had a beautiful voice attached to it this time. For a second Darren did not recognize the voice due to his anger but he quickly realized it was Cho talking to him.

"Darren, no, don't do it. It is what he wants. He can get you in trouble even though the started it."

Darren was pulling away from her, but her voice was making him less anxious to fight with each word she said. She was having a calming effect on him and Darren could feel her body behind him, her hand on his shoulder as she talked to him.

"Darren, please don't baby. Don't do it, for me. Come on let's just go okay?"

Darren felt the anger begin to subside finally. Not because he did not want to hit Draco anymore, but because he did not want to ruin the rest of the night for Cho. Cho was now tugging at him to get him away but before he could be led away, Professor Snape burst through the crowd.

"What is going here? Clarkson, what do you think you are doing? Snape demanded.

"I am leaving, that is what I am doing. Why?" Darren said with a hint of malice. It would not surprise him to find out that Draco and Snape had been working together to pull this off so as to get Darren in trouble. After all, Snape was no friend of Darren's either.

"I think you will stay here Clarkson, and you too Miss Chang."

Cho had a look tat told Darren that she would have liked to curs Snape right then and there, but Cho just stood still and said nothing. Snape turned and to the surprise of no one, spoke first to Malfoy.

"What exactly is going on here Malfoy?"

Malfoy, as expected, lied through his teeth.

"Cho bumped into Pansy and spilled Pansy's punch all over herself, then she tried to blame pansy and start a fight with her. I tried to stop it, but Clarkson stepped in and wanted to fight all of us. He seems out of control to me sir," Draco added at the end of his story.

Darren, for his part, had to fight to control the anger that was once again rising inside him. The other students around them, at least the ones not in Slytherin, were beginning to shout at Snape, because they had all seen what had really happened.

"Quiet!" Snape shouted at them. When they had quieted down, he turned to Darren. He had a sick little smile on his face that told Darren that Snape was going to enjoy this.

"Clarkson, how many times must you get in trouble before you finally learn your lesson?" he asked vehemently.

Darren said nothing, because he knew very well that anything he said would be turned and twisted to his disadvantage.

"Do you have nothing to say Clarkson? WELL!?"

"I believe that young Mr. Malfoy is not telling the truth Severus." The voice came from the crowd behind Darren and he turned to see Professor Dumbledore standing there among the students.

Snape rounded on Dumbledore and started to repeat the lies that Draco had told him. Dumbledore stood silent and still for a few minutes until he finally raised his hand in a motion for silence.

"Severus, I am fully aware of what Mr. Malfoy said, however, I am also aware of what really happened here. You see, I saw the entire incident from right there." Dumbledore pointed to a spot ten feet away and Darren could see Draco turning red in anger that he had been caught.

"You see Severus, Miss Parkinson threw her punch at Miss Chang, and then Mr. Clarkson reacted in a quite chivalrous manner. He was attempting to defend the honor of the woman he is with, and young Draco is the guilty party, as I have no doubt that the entire incident was done at his behest."

Snape looked as if he could have eaten nails, but he knew better than to argue with Dumbledore, especially in public like this.

"Professor Snape, I think that a detention for Miss Parkinson and Mr. Malfoy will be sufficient punishment for their actions. I think it should be served Monday night with Professor Sprout in the greenhouses. Don't you agree?"

Snape could not say anything except a half hearted "Yes, headmaster" in reply.

The crowd began to break up as everyone went back to the party, but Cho told Darren that she was not in the mood after that incident to stay much longer. Darren tried to get her to change her mind, but he was honestly a little glad that the night was ending early. That way he could get back to the dormitory and out to follow his instructions.

At the foot of the stairwell in the Entrance Hall, Cho told Darren she had had a very nice time, and given him a gentle, but passionate kiss good night.

"Don't forget, read the note, and meet me exactly where it says, okay?"

Darren smiled at her and said "I will be there, I swear it"

Cho gave him another kiss and turned to go towards her common room. Darren watched her go and as soon as she was out of sight, he shot up the stairs three at a time until he got to the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Blatherskite" he said and she swung open and he crawled through the opening. No other students were in the common room as all of the student body had been allowed to go to the Ball, but that could change at any time. Darren bounded up the steps and into the dormitory. He threw off his costume and changed quickly into jeans and a jumper. At the bottom of the steps he heard somebody coming through the portrait hole so he hid behind a desk in the common room. It was two first year girls returning and they did not see him as they made their way up the steps to their own rooms.

Darren pushed the portrait open slowly and saw that there was not anyone in the hallway. He got into the hallway and was surprised to find no one else as he made his way to the third floor corridor. There he found the witch with the hump and he took out his wand and tapped the hump.

"Dissendium," he said and the statue opened. Darren stepped in and almost got stuck. The opening was not very large, and he had to pull his jumper free from where it got snagged. He took one step and then he felt the bottom drop away from him. He was sliding down what could only be stone until he hit ground again. Darren picked himself up and dusted his clothes off. He pointed his wand ahead and said "Lumos". A small beam of very bright light illuminated the passageway and Darren started down it.

As he walked, his mind wandered to the tow notes in his pocket. One was from his grandfather, one from Cho. The one from his grandfather was on his mind now, and he could remember it perfectly and the instructions it gave.

Darren,

You are to leave Hogwarts tonight by means of the third floor passageway. You will meet your contact at the end of the road leading out of Hogsmeade at end two hundred meters past the Hogshead Inn. He will be behind the large house on the right side of the road and you are to be there at midnight. He will give you all the information and instructions that you will need, as well as what is expected from you in the future. Do not be late, for you know what is at stake and how much we have worked to put you in a position to help the cause.

Grandpa Alex

Darren placed the memory of the note away into the back of his mind. He had been expecting the message, just as he had been expecting the message that it was time to change houses, but he had not expected it tonight. In fact, it made him extremely angry to receive the message that evening. As he waked along the tunnel he kept thinking to himself and trying to figure out what he would be required to do next. He had barely been able to fool Dumbledore and Snape when he had been questioned by them at the beginning of the year, and it had been even harder when he had gone through the re-sorting. The Sorting Hat was subject to being fooled, but it had taken every bit of effort and magical power that Darren possessed to do it. After all, it was just a magical object, just like the Goblet of Fire that had been fooled into picking Harry Potter as a student from a fourth school exactly two years ago.

Darren could feel the tunnel begin to slope upwards and he slowed down a bit so as not to slam his head into the top of the tunnel or the secret opening in the basement of Honeydukes Sweet Shop. He saw the recessed door in the ceiling and paused to get his nerve up for the rest of the evening. When Darren pushed on the door he could feel it resisting and he had to put his shoulder on it in order to get more leverage. Finally it started to creek open and the dim light of the cellar came through the cracks on the side of the door frame. Darren waited for a second to make sure that nobody heard him or was in the cellar before pushing the door all the way open. He held onto the edge of the wood as he climbed out so as not to let it fall backwards and crash into anything.

At the top of the stairs Darren eased the door open slowly and stepped out behind the counter of Honeydukes. He saw the jars and barrels of sweets everywhere and had to walk carefully to avoid tripping on anything or knocking anything over. Making a giant jar of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans spill all over the floor would not help him at all now so he walked on tip toes to the door which he was not surprised to find locked. He tried the bolt, but it would not budge.

"Alohomora" he said quietly and the lock sprung open. Thank God it was well oiled or it might have woken the proprietors and ended his night right there.

"Nox" and his wand's light extinguished.

Darren slipped out into the street and pulled to door shut silently behind him. He headed out of the town and he passed Zonko's, Gladrags and Scrivenshaft's on the left. He ran across the road and took the road that led to the Hogshead and past it and on towards the houses that were past it. Some late night revelers were leaving the pub but Darren stayed on the opposite side of the street and was able to remain unseen. At the end of the road he walked straight into the woods for what he estimated to be two hundred meters and stopped. He knew the pre-arranged signal and was waiting for it to be given. There, two flashes of light up ahead. Darren lit his wand twice, then three times in succession to acknowledge the signal and then received five rapids flashes in return to let him know that it was safe.

Darren headed straight for the person waiting for him and stopped just short of the spot he estimated him to be. A voice spoke to him from behind a large tree and Darren had to listen carefully to hear it clearly.

"Did you take all the precautions you have been taught? Were you followed by anyone from the school?"

"No," Darren answered.

"Good then Clarkson, we can proceed."

And with that Lucius Malfoy stepped out from behind the tree.