Disclaimer : I ow nothing but the plot.
A/N : Sorry for taking this so long, guys. July and August were really crazy ! First I was passing my exams to enter a university. And I did it ! I'm a student now, you can congratulate me ! I'm gonna be an editor or something like that... Then I was trying to have some rest after all those crazy exams and after that I was celebrating my birthday ! So, as you can see, there were too many things to do and there was no time to write at all. At last I found a time to write this chapter ! Thank's for your patience !!
Many thanks to my beta ( and also my big friend ) Savuis. He also gave me some cool ideas. Thank you !
Chapter - 16
- Worse than that... He's coming here...
Harry rolled his eyes. He was imaging this ball to be different. Only he and Hermione and no one else. And now Krum is going to screw everything up. Again Harry wondered why the hell Victor Krum was here. But the was no probable answer to that question.
Krum slowly approached them and stopped a meter away from them. Harry and 'Mione turned to look at him. He was swaying in different directions and it was clear that it was very difficult for him to stand on his feet. Harry's eyes traveled around the Great Hall in search of professors but all of them were dancing or sitting at the table drinking and talking to each other not paying attention at anything else. " Great ! Then it's up to me to threw him away from here... I wonder how I'm going to do this... " - Harry thought.
- What do you want, Krum ? - Harry asked rather rudely. Victor who was looking at Hermione all this time turned to him.
- I wanna take something, Potter.
- Well, a table with drinks is out there. - Harry stretched out his arm and pointed his index finger at the table which was located at the corner of the Hall.
- Ha-ha... Very funny. Didn't know that you have a sense of humor, Potter. Now step away. - he started to get closer to Hermione. And there was no need to explain for what reason. Harry stepped in front of Hermione.
- Get away from her !
- What ? You wanna get a kiss from me too ? Okay then... - Krum made an attempt to kiss him but Harry with an expression of disgust punched him in order to threw him away.
- Oh, good lord... Go away, Krum. Leave us alone !
- You don't want me to kiss you ? Fine. Then move away !! Hermione owe me a kiss.
- She owe you nothing ! - Harry was screaming already.
- You're wrong ! You received a kiss already, now it's my turn!
- Go away and return to Bulgaria or wherever you want !
- I will. Only I'll took what is mine.
- Only over my dead body !
- I can help you that.
Suddenly out of nowhere Malfoy appeared. He took Krum's arms and turned him around rather quickly. Harry was speechless. He was standing in front of Hermione, protecting her with himself and looking at Malfoy and Krum with an expression of horror and puzzlement. He was trying to find an explanation of Draco's behavior but he couldn't.
- Move away ! It's something unbelievable !! When does Durmstrang's students received a certificate allowing them to beat Hogwarts students ?!! You'll move your ass away from this castle or I'll turn you into a mongoose or... Go away !
- Who're you ? - Krum asked. His drunk eyes were directed straight at Malfoy. - I'm Draco Malfoy and I command you to leave this hall.
- Oh yeah ?! You're gonna regret...
- What's going on here ? - came a very familiar voice out of nowhere. It was Snape. His appearance was so unexpected that Harry even shivered. All four looked at Snape at once. No one was able to answer professor's question but there was no need to do that. Severus took a few steps in Krum's direction and it was clear why this incident took place. He snuffed at the air around Krum and an expression of disgust appeared on his face.
- God... Mr. Krum, you need to wash that smell off of yourself or everyone in the hall will simply die... Malfoy, 10 points for Slytherin. - Malfoy grinned and looked at Harry.
- Mr. Krum, follow me.
- I won't.
- What ? What did you say ?!
- I won't follow you. - Victor simply said. - I mean who are you to give me orders ?
- I'm a Hogwarts professor . And while you're here in Hogwarts you will obey my orders.
- No, I won't.
- You're starting to annoy me, Mr. Krum.
- It's your problems. - Krum said turning around to face Harry again. - So, Potter ? Will you step away ?
Harry looked at Severus Snape who looked like he's gonna explode at any minute. No one ever talked to him like that except for Harry maybe. His hand moved to his pocket apparently to withdraw his wand but then stopped. It wasn't a good decision. It would be better if he'll took Victor Krum without his wand 'cause he was so angry that all this may end to Krum with his own funereal.
- I said come with me ! - he almost screamed. He took his right arm curtly and tugged him along with him to the exit from the Great Hall. Krum was trying to get away from Snape but he was drunk so he couldn't help but stride along with Severus.
For a few moment's Harry was standing not daring to make a move away from Hermione and looking at the doors of the Great Hall as though Krum and Snape were still standing there. Then he turned to Hermione who was still standing behind him with an expression of shock on his face.
- It's okay, 'Mione. He's gone. I'm here with you. - he stroke her chick with his thumb and smiled. - Let's just pretend that nothing had happened.
She nodded and smiled too. Harry suddenly remembered about Malfoy and turned around to see where he was but Draco was gone and nowhere to be seen. Harry shrugged and took Hermione's arm.
- Let's sit for a while. - he suggested.
The ball continued. Student's were dancing, laughing, drinking and eating when suddenly the doors of the Great Hall opened and Filch stormed in. He quickly walked to professor Dumbledore who was standing near the table with a goblet of butterbeer in his hand and talking to Minerva McGonagall.
- Professor ! Professor !!
- What do you want, Mr. Filch ?
- I was checking the owlery, professor, when I found...
- You found what ? - Albus asked after a long pause.
- Many owls returned seriously damaged. Their wings are crumpled...or even broken...I don't know. This can mean only one thing, professor. They were....
- ... Intercepted. - Dumbledore said before Filch could finish his sentence. He lowered his eyes and then looked at Filch again, his gaze full of horror. - Mr. Filch, it's immensely important to find the owners of the owls which were intercepted as soon as possible. Take some student's to help you and when you'll find the owners please take them to my office.
Filch nodded and retired.
- Albus, what are we going to do ? This means only one thing... that...
- Not here, Minerva, Let's talk about it in my office.
- So what do you think, professor Dumbledore ?
- I'm sure that Voldemort now knows that Harry is alive... And the only reason why he still didn't do anything is that now he has no right for the next mistake. He will make his new steps very carefully... Miss Granger did something that only one man had done before her. This is the second revival threw all history. And due to her we have finally found one of the numerous hidden libraries of Salazar Slytherin.
- Yes...It's wonderful, of course... - McGonagall agreed sitting down on a chair near headmaster's desk and once again waving away two flies which were impudently flying right in front of her nose. - But once again we have found only one hidden place. There are still hundreds or so hidden libraries. I still can't imagine how he managed to do that... to hide SO MANY books.
- Well, he had managed to hide the Chamber of Secrets. There's no reason to be surprised. - Dumbledore sat down in his armchair and crossed his fingers. Minerva McGonagall who was sitting near headmasters desk looked very funny, like a student who was asked to come to the Headmasters office for some important reason.
Flies who were swirling in the air for a long time floated down on the table and started to creep on a transparent bottle which was standing right near Albus Dumbledore. Minerva was looking at the strange insects for a long time and then glanced at the headmaster.
- And what about Sirius Black ? What news ? He didn't appear in the castle.
- That's because I sent Fawks with a letter to him. I wrote him that it was a fake alarm and there's nothing to be worry about and that it will be good for him to remain where he is.
- Don't you think it was rather dangerous ? What if...
- No, Minerva. That's exactly why I decided to send Fawks to him. This is the bird no one can intercept even if he's willing to do that. He's not a simple owl you know...
- Yes, of course I know... But still it was very risky.
- 'Cause it was risky. Right now every day of our lives is very risky. Especially when Voldemort knows that Harry Potter is alive. We need to be extra careful. - Dumbledore made a pause. - The fact that we have found Salazar's books is partly a good thing and partly not. On the one hand only because they were found Harry Potter was saved and on the other hand we have found such a dangerous books that I can't even imagine what may happen if they will pass to the wrong hands. It would be better if we never found them. In a better times I would surely say another thing but now... when Voldemort revived, gathering his power and is searching for any kind of opportunity which will allow him to receive a boundless authority...it would be better if these book were lost forever.
- Does You-Know-Who know about Salazar's collection ?
- Of course he knows. And he was trying to find them for a very long time. I remember that even when he was still Tom Riddle I always found him in a rather unexpected places of the castle... And every time he was telling me that he was just inspecting the corridors in search of students who were awake. Surprisingly I thought he was telling the truth. You know, Minerva, Tom was just like one of the Weasley brothers - Percy. He was true to his work. A prefect indeed. - Albus fell silence for some time and then continued. - Tom Riddle knew the history of Hogwarts pretty well. And of course he knew about Salazar Slytherin's collection. And as far as I know he didn't find a single book...Thank god... Now we know how to find those hidden libraries. And we must examine the books which Miss Granger has found in the library. I'm sure there must be the most dangerous book of all times. The book that must be destroyed. If it will reach Voldemorts hands... it will be a catastrophe.
- What book ?
- "Death and Life". If book "Life and Death" can help to revive a person the book "Death and Life" has a different effect. It contains such a terrible spells that I don't even won't to describe what they do. You asked me what are we going to do a few minutes ago... I'll tell you. First of all, Minerva, we must find the owners of the owls and find out what was in the letters which they were sending. We need to know what information Voldemort received. Then we must destroy the book "Death and Life"
Silence fell. Two flies floated in the air and started to fly about the office. McGonagall looked at the annoying insects and sighed.
- Potter need to know all this. We must warn him. He doesn't know that Voldemort still think that he's dead...
- Yeah, we need to warn him... - Dumbledore agreed. - Can you do something for me, Minerva ? Bring Harry Potter and Hermione Granger here into my office.
- Of course. - McGonagall nodded and stood up. - Albus ? Do you think that Miss Granger need to hear this ?
- Of course. Haven't you seen what happened during the ball ? - Dumbledore smiled. - She will found out about everything sooner or later from Harry. It will be better if she will hear all this right now. McGonagall nodded, opened the door and left the Headmasters office. Two flies flew out along with her...
Harry and Hermione were sitting on a bench near the table with food. The ball supposed to end only in the early morning so they had plenty of time to have rest and to dance a hundred times. For now they decided that it's best to sit together for a while and have a break. Harry held Hermione's hand. For both of them it was a casual gesture already. Their fingers were entwined with each other and Harry could feel how tense she was. 'Mione was squeezing his palm from time to time and she was biting her lower lip nervously. Harry tried to meet her eyes but she stubbornly kept her gaze fixed on her shoes. It seemed that the kiss which took place only a few minutes ago was forgotten but it wasn't true. In fact, that kiss was the only thing they were thinking about. Well, maybe they were thinking about Malfoy's strange behavior too... but other than that they were thinking only about their relations. What will change between them from now on ? Their friendship had ended... they couldn't deny it. And that was exactly what they were afraid of.
" Of course, our friendship had ended. But now it will turn into something bigger... something wonderful, magical... " - Harry suddenly thought. He turned to Hermione and was about to talk to her when unexpectedly he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He turned to the right and found professor McGonagall standing near him with a rather worried expression on her face. Harry wondered for a second why she was so worried but then the answer came to him by itself.
- Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, professor Dumbledore wants to talk to you in his office.
Harry frowned and stood up still holding 'Mione's arm.
- What is it ? Something happened ? - Harry asked even though he knew the answer already.
- Actually, yes. Follow me. Harry met Hermione's eyes at last and saw the same fear he was feeling himself right now. It was clear that the troubles began again...
Meanwhile in the Gryffindor common room....
- What kind of spell ? - asked Seamus for maybe a hundred time.
- You'll see. I just need two flies to make it. Can you catch them for me ? Here. - Parvati held him a small jar. Seamus took it without any questions and started to wonder around the common room in search of insects.
At last after 15 minutes of searching he had found what he needed. Two flies were sitting on a chimney shelf not paying any attention at the "hunting" Seamus. On a count of three he attacked his victims and the flies were trapped.
- Parvati, here ! I caught them !! - he cried demonstrating her a jar in which two flies were flying madly hitting the transparent walls from time to time.
- Oh, thanks ! - she smiled a him.
- Now, show your spell. - he almost commanded.
- Let's get outside... Somewhere... on a Quidditch field, for example. It's deserted now so no one will disturb us.
- Ok. You know, those flies were very strange... They were sitting on a chimney shelf and looking at each other not paying attention at me...
- Yeah. right... They were special flies... Animaguses... who were in love with each other.. - Parvati giggled. Seamus smiled widely. Then the expression on his face suddenly changed as if he suddenly remembered something very important.
- What about the ball !? Don't you wanna dance ?
- No... I've danced enough. I'm tired. But if you want we can go back to the Great Hall... - she said and looked directly into his eyes. Seamus felt as if he started to melt under her gaze.
- No-no. Let's have a break and then we can go back. You know, I'm a bit tired too.
- Okay then... - So tell me. What kind of spell it is ?
- Well, I can turn these flies into birds.
- Really ? Cool ! I wanna see it ! It will be so funny !
These days Seamus was always wearing a very long cloak. It's laps were constantly making it hard for him to walk. And now, not for the first time during the past few days he stepped on his own cloak and fell the floor. The jar slipped out of his hands and broke into pieces.
- There ! Look what have you done, Seamus ! Now they're going to...
Parvati suddenly fell silence. She became numb from what she saw. There on the floor on the same spot where the jar broke were two men in a black cloaks lying on the floor. The flies were nowhere to be seen.
Luckily Severus Snape and Filch were walking down the corridor right at this time. They saw the strangers and ran as fast as they could to them. Snape withdraw his wand and cried:
- impedimenta ! - two times so that the two wizards were unable to move.
Seamus with a shocked expression on his face turned to look at Parvati and was able to say only one phase :
- You said something about animaguses ?!
Well, this is chapter 16 ! I was working hard on it and I hope you liked it. Yeah, troubles had began... Well, review ! I wanna know your opinion ! :)