Chapter Twelve
A month had gone by, and the school was in frenzy about that nightsHalloween Ball. There would be dancing, costumes, and, of course, treats. But there were two students completely unaware of the chaos sweeping through the castle. Harry and Mia were wandering around the Quidditch Pitch, walking under the various beams that made up the base of it, just laughing and talking. It was obvious to everyone that Mia was having an effect on Harry. He was more cheerful, more easy going, and seemed to be relieved in a way, as if a huge burden had been removed from his shoulders; perhaps Mia was taking his mind off the War.
"…and you know what I discovered?" Harry asked Mia, who just gave him a curious look, "A lot of the moves that the Kestrels made can be used by our team. They really are very easy to learn and maneuver."
Mia laughed slightly at Harry's enthusiasm, "I see that you have taken a fancy to the Kestrels…"
Harry shook his head, "Yes…you were right…the Kestrels are very good."
"Thank you," Mia said, pleased with herself. "I actually think that the Holyland Harpies would beat the Kestrels in a match…."
"What!" Harry exclaimed, "That lot of gir…" He cut off his sentence when Mia threw him a glare, "Uh…I mean, that lot of excellent witches from across the world who have a lot of talent in the field of Quidditch?" Mia nodded approvingly, earning a laugh from Harry.
This led to a long discussion about who would win in a match, witches or wizards…the classic battle of the sexes rages on…
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Harry and Mia had made their way up to the Gryffindor section of the Quidditch Pitch and were sitting there just watching the sun start its setting journey.
"…Harry…" Mia said after a moment.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"Have you ever heard of Sorcerers or Sorceresses?" she asked, not looking at him.
Harry thought for a moment about all he had ever heard of Sorcery. "Yeah, they're supposed to be really evil and cruel, able to do wandless magic? Right?" he asked, Mia let out a small chuckle. "What?"
"Do you believe that?" she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.
"Not really," He answered automatically, "Nicholas Flammel was a sorcerer who created the sorcerer's stone, which would be very helpful to the world in the right hands…they can't all be evil right?"
Mia gave him an interested look, "What makes you say that?"
"Well," Harry started, "If you think about it…to muggles, witches and wizards are supposed to be ugly warty faced evil magicians…but were not all like that. Sure there are some that have gone down a darker path than most, but were not all evil…" He looked at Mia as he said the next part, "And some witches I know are particularly beautiful."
Mia looked away blushed, muttering something Harry couldn't catch. He laughed at her embarrassment, "What brought about this discussion anyway?" he asked.
Mia looked as if she were debating something to herself, before replying with a question of her own, "What would you say if I said that I was a Sorceress?"
Harry looked at her curiously, "Are…are you a sorceress?"
Mia nodded slightly, not looking at him, "I am." She took a deep breath, looking up at the setting sun, "That's part of the reason I was in St. Mundo's last year…I can't tell you everything," she said, fiddling with the edge of her Red and Gold Gryffindor scarf, "But…something attacked my family last year and I ended up recovering in St. Mundo's…"
She trailed off as Harry absorbed this information. He didn't press her to explain what happened; he knew what it was like to have people constantly ask you what happened during the Dark Lord's attacks…it's not something you want to remember. He looked up at Mia; she had a single tear making it's way down her cheek, leaving a red stain on her pale cheek. He reached up to wipe it away, the fibers of his red and Gold Gryffindor gloves tickling her cheek.
Mia looked up at him, only to see him smiling at her. She was about to ask why when he spoke, "You know, you asked my what I'd say…" she gave him a curious look, "I'd have to say that you are the without a doubt the most beautiful Sorceress I have ever met…"
Mia laughed at this, "I'm the only sorceress you've ever met…"
"Well…yeah," Harry replied, "But…you are very beautiful."
Mia blushed and looked away, "No I'm not…" she said quietly, "I mean…I guess I'm alright, but I'm definitely not the prettiest flower in the bouquet…"
Harry shook his head, "You are." He still had not removed his hand from her cheek and was now lightly brushing her cheek with his thumb. Slowly, ever so slowly they started to lean forward, they were almost touching when the Hogwarts clock (which mysteriously appeared in the 3rd movie) struck. They jumped back in their seats, separating with red, embarrassed faces. They looked at the clock, it was 7:00 pm, the Halloween dance would be starting in one hour.
Still red in the face the two stood and turned to one another. "I guess I'll just…" they said at the same time.
They laughed breaking the tension, Harry looked up at Mia, "See you at the dance?"
She nodded, "See you."
They both turned and headed their separate ways. Harry was heading towards where he had stashed his costume on the Pitch, and Mia towards the castle to the costume that she refused to tell Harry what it was.
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Two lone figures made their way up to the girls' dormitory; they came to a stop just out side the entrance to the 7th year girls' dorm. A flash of red hair was seen just before the door was open.
Hermione and Ron shut the door as gently as possible, thankfully the common room was empty so there was no one there to see them sneak up to the dorm. "Which bed's hers again?" Ron whispered looking at the 6 beds in the circular room.
"That one," Hermione said pointing to the one closest to the window on the left. They walked over and immediately began scrounging around her things. They looked under her bed, in her dresser, in her trunk…everywhere, but they couldn't find anything out of the norm.
Ron let out a frustrated groan; they had waited for about a month till they could get a chance to check Mia's things.
Hermione was still sorting through Mia's trunk, pulling out book upon book, a few muggle clothing pieces, and a lumpy wrapped package. She had almost given up when she found a small, beautifully carven, wooden box at the bottom. "Ron," She whispered urgently, getting his attention. He knelt over by her, as she opened the box. There were bout 3 shiny black stones, sitting in the box on a black velvet base. There were two crossing white lines, to divide the box in four, making it obvious that there was one missing, the one that Harry had. They looked at each other. Each stone had labels along the side to show which replay each stone was. There was one labeled special moments, Quidditch, Movies, and Ideas. For a moment, Ron and Hermione were concerned with the Idea replay, so Hermione went to grab it when the bottom shifted. They looked at each other; there must be a false bottom to the box. Ron lifted up the velvet plate to reveal a single black stone, it wasn't as shiny as the others and it was slightly cracked. It was unlabeled, which was enough for the couple. Clearly Mia didn't want anyone to find that particular stone or to know what was on it.
Ron pocketed the stone, returning the plate to the box. Hermione put the box back, placing everything back into the truck exactly how it was. They were feeling safe when they heard the portrait in the common room shut and steps coming up the girls' stairs. The doorknob to the room started to turn, when Hermione, thinking quickly, shut the trunk, grabbed Ron, and pulled him to her.
Mia opened the door to the Girls 7th year dorm only to find Hermione and Ron in what appeared to be a heated Make-Out session. "Oh! Oh my God, I'm so sorry…" she went to shut the door and back out of the room when Hermione broke the kiss.
"Oh, no it's alright Mia, we were just leaving. Have to help Ron get ready for the Dance, can't have him dressing like a muggle again." She said pulling Ron past Mia and out of the room, "Come on, Ronald."
Mia just shook her head smiling at the love that the two seemed to share. She walked over to her bed, her smile faded. Her trunk was partially open, a piece of shirt hanging out of it. She knelt by her trunk and opened it. Her clothes were not in the order she had put them in, she only had a few clothes to her name, so she thought she'd remember which ones she put where. Not to mention the fact that her books were on their sides, and she usually stacked them flat.
A thought suddenly struck her, as she ruffled through her trunk, reaching down to the bottom for her box. She opened it; her three stones were there. She took a deep breath, and removed the velvet plate…it was gone. Her stone was gone.
"No, no, no, no, no," she kept thinking to herself. She put her head in her hands, taking deep breaths. "Ok, it's ok. I never told them how to get the replay to work, and they won't have time to watch it before the dance. I'll leave early and get it back." She nodded to herself, telling herself that it would all be ok.
She grabbed a lumpy package from inside the trunk, shutting it, and carrying the package to her bed. She opened it carefully, smiling at the costume in her hands.
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Meanwhile, two figures sat inside the Room of Requirements, just before the Halloween ball was to start. They were in their costumes, but neither was paying attention. Their focus was placed solely on the events playing right before their eyes. Anger, fear, and disgust were evident in their eyes. Hermione had a few tears building up, while Ron was pale, hands balled into fists. The scene finished playing, the two just looked at each other, knowing what they had to do…and that it had to be done soon.
A/N – What are Hermione and Ron planning? What was on the Replay? What should Ron/Hermione, Harry and Mia go as? I need to know before I update the story…I will up date the story probably on the 22nd, if I do not have more suggestions I will either make one up or use the highest voting.
So far the vote is:
Mia –
Princess – 1
Harry –
Quidditch Player – 1