Chapter 27

The Valentine's Ball

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Later that evening all the students were gathered in the Great Hall. Harry had met Cho earlier and they had given each other their cards and presents. Hermione and Ron had spent the afternoon together and had also exchanged their gifts. Hermione was thrilled with the present much to Ron's delight.

"You should have seen her face? Harry, she was so happy," he recalled as he put on his dress robes that evening.

"Did Cho like the bracelet?"

"Yeah" Harry replied from the other side of the room, "it looked lovely on her, she said she'd wear it tonight. What do you think of this cologne Ron? She gave it to me earlier. I expect she'll want me to wear it this evening."

Ron took the small purple coloured vial and smelled the contents.

"It's a bit strong, you really have to smell it to get the aroma, it's alright. Whoa! I think I inhaled a bit too much of it there" Ron laughed. "I'd wear it just tonight Harry but you don't have to wear it again after that.

Harry laughed, Ron was right the contents smelled odd, but not that powerful you really had to put a lot on to smell it. He splashed some on his hands and dabbed his face and neck. When the dorm had emptied he did it again, making sure he could smell is so he knew Cho knew he was wearing her present.

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The hall was filling up slowly the boys were dressed in formal dress robes and the girls were in dresses. The candles were lit and the food and drink was plentiful.

Harry and Cho danced together to the soft romantic music that was being played by the band, and when they took a break they sat with Hermione and Ron. Harry was so happy that night for the first time in a long time he forgot all his problems and worries. As he spun Cho around the floor he looked over and saw Ron. The best friends caught each others eyes and they both nodded to each other. Harry was happy that Ron and Hermione had found each other. The two of them looked lovely together. He then looked at his own date and smiled. She was gorgeous, her long black hair gently swaying across her back as she rested her head on his shoulder. Nothing he thought could ruin the night.

As he felt Cho snuggling into his neck more he held her tightly and wished the evening would never end. He felt a bit warm but he told himself that he wasn't going to have a repeat performance of the Yule ball. He closed his eyes and listened to the music. He imagined they were the only couple in the hall and the music was being played just for the two of them.

His thoughts vanished when he heard Cho suddenly inhale quite sharply into his shoulder and she moved her arm from around his neck.

"Cho" he said, "Are you alright?"

She looked up and said, "Oh just a cramp, everything is fine. I just had my arm in the same place for two long"

She gave a small grin and fixed the sleeve of her robe down over her arm. Harry hadn't noticed that the music had ended until Cho said,

"Do you fancy a walk outside?"

"Sure" he replied thankfully because he hoped the fresh air would cool him down. "I'll just tell Ron and Hermione that we'll be outside if they need us or want to join us later"

"Do you need to tell them everything that you do?" Cho questioned with a little sharpness in her tone.

Harry not wanting to have his night ruined just smiled back and said,

"No, of course I don't. Sure, let's head outside."

As the couple left the dance floor Cho quickly looked around the room and saw Malfoy. He gave her a small nod and quickly turned away. Ron and Hermione didn't see the pair leaving because they were both in conversation with Dean and Ginny.

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Harry and Cho left the castle and headed to the lake. Cho's arm was getting more painful and hotter, she shivered slightly.

"Cold" Harry asked, "Do you want my cloak or we can head back in?"

"No, no, I'm fine" she said. "What time is it?"

"Oh! It's just gone past ten, we have ages yet"

Harry put his arm around her shoulders and they walked on. They stopped by the lake and they sat on a bench that was facing the water. The full moon created a silvery path across it. Harry stared out across the lake and thought about Lupin and hoped he was safe somewhere. He felt a hand on his arm as if Cho could read his mind. He apologised for being distant and explained that he was worried about Lupin and everytime there was a full moon he was brought back to his Third Year. Trying not to dampen the mood of the night he turned and faced Cho.

"You look really lovely tonight," he said looking straight into her eyes.

She looked over his shoulder for a brief second and saw movement over by the trees. Her arm was aching at this stage and she knew she had to give them the sign. Looking back to Harry she leaned in closer and cupped her hand across his jaw. He tilted his head slightly and his lips reached hers. She knew this was her chance.

She brought Harry in closer and wrapped her left arm over his shoulder and gently played with the hair across his neck. Harry heard her whisper something but he couldn't make out what. They continued to kiss and very slowly Cho lifted her thumb up, she held it there for a couple of seconds making sure that the signal had been seen from the light of the moon. When the signal had been given she placed her hand back on to Harry's neck and gently massaged it before he realised that it had been removed.

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"That was the signal men" Lucius Malfoy whispered to the other Death Eaters who were hiding behind the trees. "Good girl Chang" he laughed, "Now to get Potter. Right men on my count and remember you're not to kill either of them, the girl is working for us and as for Potter, we need to bring him in alive. Masks on, lets get them."

Silently they tip-toed out of their hiding places and circled the embracing couple.

"Sorry to interrupt your party Mr Potter" Malfoy senior sneered, "My friends and I are having our own party later and I hear you are the guest of honour. Did you get your invite?"

"Always the comedian Malfoy" Harry replied, "You can just go back to the hole you climbed out of."

Harry stood up from the bench; wand raised and kept Cho behind him.

"Protecting your girlfriend Potter, how noble of you. When will you realise you will never be able to beat us. Your parents thought the same and look what happened to them. Your father was just as troublesome, always getting himself caught up in something that wasn't his business, either by protecting someone useless or for fighting for that bumbling fool Dumbledore. You'll die just like him. Really Potter to lose one parent is unfortunate but to lose both is just careless."

Harry felt anger he had never felt before. "Don't fail me now magic" he thought. He was breathing heavily and he stood gritting his teeth. He couldn't feel the magic flowing through his arm and he was starting to worry. Fortunately for Harry Malfoy hadn't noticed.

"Now, now don't go get yourself all worked up and do something stupid, that I will make sure you regret later. Men, get the girl, we'll deal with Potter then."

"Don't you dare touch her" Harry shouted confidently raising his wand higher.

His hands began to sweat and he started to feel entirely useless. He was back in the duelling class; no spells would come to him. He prayed for his wand to respond but it felt empty.

"He looks like he's going to cry" Nott senior called from the crowd. "He's meant to be the Boy-who-Lived, he's more like the Boy-who-Cried in fear."

Harry didn't know what was wrong and he wasn't prepared for the first spell to hit him. A flash of red light from Nott's wand hit him full force in the chest and he fell over backwards. Feeling dizzy from banging his head off the ground he stumbled to get up. He was very aware of the sound of his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

"I'm not scared, I can do this" he repeated to himself over and over again.

He had been through a lot of terrifying moments since he joined Hogwarts, but nothing in the last five years had him prepared for this moment. He was the most frightened he had ever been in his life and he had no idea why. Any moment now and he would be descended upon, and then he would have to respond. If he didn't he or Cho would be put through a fate worse than death. A scream from Cho brought him out of his thoughts, it was now or never.

"My parents died protecting me" he said, "and if I have to die protecting the people I love, then so be it. Do you worst Malfoy but I won't come with you that easily."

Harry wasn't prepared for the first punch that hit him squarely on the cheek. The stinging in his cheek was enough to bring tears to his eyes and then the heat rose on the right handside of his face. Moving his jaw slightly to ease the pain, the second hit came just as fast and this time Harry tasted blood and a tabbing pain in his lip now distracted him from the pain his cheek.

"Did that one hurt?" Malfoy laughed. "I thought you would be prepared for that, isn't that how Muggles fight, fists first think later."

Harry had a look around to see if anyone was out around the grounds. He thought he could make out two students coming out of the castle. Malfoy followed Harry's stare and called out to the others.

"Quickly, grab him and lets get out of here, our lord will be waiting."

Trying to think of something that would help, Harry raised his wand and said,

"Expelliarmus"

Praying it would work. Thankfully they were standing closer so not a lot of energy was needed. The wands of the nearest Death Eaters flew to his hands and knocked the men over. A scream came from Cho and Harry turned to see one of them pull her arms tightly around her back and held a wand pointed to her neck.

"This is how we wizards fight" Macnair's voice spoke.

"Stop playing games Potter" Malfoy said, "Or your girlfriend gets hurt. Just surrender and come quickly because the more time wasting you do the more pain she will feel. Macnair, get your wand ready."

"Don't hurt her" Harry called trying to sound confident. "I'll come with you, just don't hurt her."

"Harry" Cho sniffled with tears in her eyes, "Don't give in, don't listen to them I'm fine"

"Shut up!" Malfoy replied. "Stupefy"

"NO!" Harry screamed running towards the hooded man

"Crucio" Malfoy said pointing his wand straight at Harry.

The pain hit Harry and he fell to the ground. Trying not to give in but being so weak, he cried,

"Okay, okay. I'll come with you, just make it stop"

He knew he was being pitiful and in normal circumstances he would have been annoyed with himself for practically begging at Lucius Malfoy's feet but there was no way out.

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Harry had been right; two students had left the castle and were going for a romantic stroll. Neville Longbottom and a girl from Hufflepuff Luna Lovegood had been seeing each other just a couple of months. When they saw the crowd of hooded people around the lake they ducked behind the nearest bush. Not wanting to be seen they remained there watching. It wasn't until they heard Harry scream in pain was when they realised what was happening.

Neville could see Cho slumped up against a hooded man and Harry was on the ground. He needed to get Dumbledore and help his friend but the risk of being caught was too high, especially now that the circle of men had parted and Neville could see exactly what was happening.

There was a sudden flash of light and then darkness once more. The flash was so bright Neville and Luna had to shut their eyes.

"Someone in the castle would have seen that" Neville whispered

"They're gone" Luna replied

"Gone" Neville repeated shocked, looking towards the lake. "We have to tell Dumbledore"

The two of them ran back to the entrance of the castle and bumped into Hermione and Ron.

"Hiya Neville" Ron said, "Haven't seen Harry have you, we've been looking for ages. Are you alright mate, you look pale?"

"Must talk to Dumbledore" Neville panted, "Saw Harry, he's gone"

"Gone" Hermione shrieked, "Gone where? Was Cho with him?"

"Yeah" Luna replied, "She's gone too"

"We'd better tell Dumbledore" Hermione said turning back towards the castle

"That was where we were headed" Neville replied.

"Where would we find him?" Luna asked

"Well he could be still in the great hall" Ron said, "Last I saw he was talking to Malfoy"

"Malfoy as in Draco Malfoy" Hermione said with raised eyebrows. "I wonder what he wanted with Dumbledore. Neville was there anyone else around when Harry vanished?"

"Yeah, a circle of hooded men. We saw Harry on the ground, he was saying something but we couldn't hear what it was."

Hermione gasped. "Hooded men, Malfoy talking to Dumbledore, that wasn't a friendly chat he was conducting, that was a diversion. Quick we don't have much time, we need to find Dumbledore"

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End of chapter :)