And here be chapter 17…enjoy

Chapter 17

It was almost like magic. The pain in both of their scars had vanished once they entered Dumbledore's office. Harry led Emily over to Dumbledore's desk and they both took a seat.

"Professor" Harry began.

He raised one hand. "No need Harry… am already aware of why you and Miss Rivers are here."

Emily gave Dumbledore a quizzical look.

"Both of your scars hurt do they not?"

Harry and Emily nodded.

"So I figured. You see I have sensed Voldemort's presence near the school for quite some time."

Harry gasped. "He's near the school…why hasn't he done anything yet?"

Dumbledore sat there smiling behind his desk looking over his half moon spectacles. "But he has done something."

Harry looked around in alarm. "What has he done?"

"I believe that he is using one of our students to get to you Harry." Dumbledore replied.

"One of the students? Which one?" Harry questioned.

Dumbledore nodded towards Emily. "I believe it is Miss Rivers."

Harry looked at Emily who was evidently staring at the floor. "Emily?"

Emily looked into Harry's eyes… then looked at Dumbledore pleadingly. "I swear professor I haven't used my gift."

Dumbledore smiled. "I know you haven't…but Voldemort knows you possess such a gift and he is trying to make you use it."

"What gift?" Harry questioned.

"The gift of Telepathically reading someone's mind. It's a rare gift… I can do that." Emily responded softly. "That is why I'm taking Occlumency lessons with you."

"Now I get it," Harry whispered. "Now I get it when you said you were doing the opposite of Occlumency…you can automatically perform Ligemens."

"Exactly. That and I'm a parsletongue."

Dumbledore smiled. "Voldemort knows you possess the ability to do automatic Ligemens. He sees you as a valuable asset."

"But professor, how is he making me use my gift?" Emily questioned.

"The scars on your arm burn because he makes them burn…He wants you to cry out in pain through Ligemens…that way he can track exactly who you are…that's my guess anyway."

"So Voldemort did give her those scars?" Harry asked.

"It could have been him, or it could have been a Death Eater." Dumbledore replied

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Snape"

"Harry I've been through this with you already. I trust Snape with my life, there is no way he would do such a thing." Dumbledore said calmly. "I don't know how she came to have those scars, but what I do know is that Hogwarts is on the verge of not being safe anymore. We must take all precautions to stop whatever it is Voldemort is planning."

Emily nodded and stood up. "I'll stop it. I swear I will. I won't use my gift anymore."

Dumbledore continued smiling, but sighed deeply. "Thank you for the offer Miss Rivers, but I believe it may already be too late…He has marked you and his plan is in motion. The only way to stop it is to stick together with Harry and unite the school."

Harry looked at the ground. "I swear I'll protect you Emily."

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Harry and Emily had not told Hermione and Ron about what Dumbledore mentioned up in his office. They decided the longer it was kept a secret the better. Eventually they would tell them, but they feared that prying ears would over hear them. Due to the fact that Fred and George Weasley's joke shop was doing quite well, Harry noticed that many students were managing to smuggle in more and more items. Harry was most fearful of the extendable ears. If someone happened to have one of them and caught a bit of their conversation with Ron or Hermione then it might start panic throughout the school.

Instead the kept their mouths shut and continued on with their schooling as if nothing happened. With each passing day they found that the Yule celebration was getting closer and closer. On the last day of classes before winter break, a lot of the students couldn't help but shake in excitement for the vacation.

Snape however didn't let them off so easily. "Don't think that I am going to give you a free period just because it's the day before vacation. This is still a working day and I want you to create the Draught of peace potion in the next 90 minutes. I'll be around to check." He waved his wand. "The directions are on the board. You may begin."

Hermione forced her way over to Harry. She evidently didn't want to work with Ron. She hadn't talked to him since the day in Hogsmede. Ron had tried desperately to get her attention, but she refused to even look at him. Instead she spent all her time with Harry.

"Be my partner Harry?" Hermione questioned

Harry nodded. "Sure."

Ron's face went red with jealousy.

Emily took a seat next to Ron. "Partner?"

Ron nodded but didn't take his eyes off Harry and Hermione.

With Hermione working with Harry, it seemed as if this would be his best grade yet for Snape. She added the right items at the right time; she chopped up the roots and figs to the perfect quantity. She even took careful notes.

Ron sat chopping his Rose roots vigorously.

"Ron don't" Emily warned him. "If you chop them in the wrong proportion then you'll mess up the potion."

Ron ignored her. "Stupid, good for nothing piece of crap."

"Ron?"

"What!" he snapped.

"What is wrong with you" Emily questioned as she poured the powdered bicorn horn into the mixture.

"Hermione that is whats wrong with me! She says she refuses to go to the Yule ball with me. Ever since what happened at Hogsmede, she hasn't talked to me. I got a message from her saying she was breaking up and that she found someone else to go with." He replied giving a deadly look at Harry.

"Ron…I" Emily began

"Shut up! I don't need any pity," Ron screamed as he knocked the cauldron over. Its contents pored over on to the table.

Snape came bustling over to the table. "Weasley 50 points from Gryffindor and you will serve detention with me tonight."

Ron shot him a dirty look.

By the end of class Hermione and Harry were the only ones who had a perfect looking potion. Snape collected everyone's samples and dismissed them. This marked the official start of winter vacation.

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On Christmas Eve, the night of the Yule ball, many students (Girls mostly) were buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Ginny, Holly, and Hermione all gathered in Emily's personal Head Girl common room.

Hermione wore a sparkling blue dress that went down to her ankles. She tied her hair up in an elegant knot and applied a little makeup to her face. Ginny was wearing a deep fiery red tight fitting gown. A single slit went up to practically her waist on the side of the dress. Holly wore a strapless champagne color dress with a shawl draped around her arms. Emily wore the silver dress Draco had picked out for her.

"You look amazing" Hermione commented

Emily blushed.

Ginny and holly nodded in agreement.

Wanting to get the subject off of her she quickly said. "So Hermione who are you going to the ball with. Ron told me you broke it off with him."

Hermione hesitated but said. "Harry"

Ginny examined herself in the mirror. "You were right to ditch Ron. He's such a controlling prick."

Hermione blushed.

"Who are you going with Ginny?" Emily asked.

"I'm going with Dean Thomas. And Holly here is going with Neville."

"Whom's Ron going with?" Holly asked

Hermione shrugged. "There is always that statue he can take"

The girls let out a bunch of giggles.

Emily looked at the clock on the wall and gasped. "Shoot I promised Draco I'd meet at 7:30. I have to go."

Emily ran out of her room and into the entrance hall, where she saw Draco waiting against a wall off to the side. She walked over to him with a sheepish smile

"You look amazing!" he exclaimed. "Come on. The ball will be starting." He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the great hall.

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The Great hall looked amazing. It was if it was completely covered in crystal. Emily examined the room with great enthusiasm. Harry and Hermione followed in behind them with Dean and Ginny and Holly and Neville close behind.

As always the first dance was a traditional waltz. It was not one of Emily's favorite dances, but she still enjoyed it. By the time the waltz was over Ron had managed to stroll into the Great Hall with an unexpected date.

Hermione gasped, as she saw none other than Pansy Parkinson in a ruffling pink gown clutching onto Ron's arm. When Ron looked at Harry and Hermione dancing together he gave them a look of pure disgust.

Hermione gladly returned the look. "Honestly if he thinks he can get to me by escorting that…that cow then …then I'm" her face was getting red by the second.

Harry interrupted her. "Hermione its alright…let him be." And with that he pulled Hermione out onto the dance floor once again.

Emily took a seat on one of the cloth-covered chairs and took in the amazing scenery again.

Draco returned with two cups of steaming hot chocolate. He gave one to Emily who gratefully drank the sweet contents. "Thanks"

"No problem"

Emily looked to find Harry happily twirling Hermione on the dance floor. She laughed in bliss.

Ron on the other hand was trying not to step on Pansy's feet.

Laura had both Crabbe and Goyle trying to touch her ass. When they did she would playfully smack them and say. "Not here."

However standing in the corner of the Great Hall was a tall slender man with long, flowing, white-blonde hair. Emily got a feeling of déjà vu. She could have sworn she met him before. "Draco who is that? She asked pointing at the man in the corner."

Draco turned to take a look. "That's my father. He insists on helping out with these sort of things."

Emily nodded

"I'm going to talk to him a minute…I'll be back." He replied

He left Emily sitting there alone with a questionable face. She was sure she saw an evil smirk on Draco's fathers face. She couldn't mistake it now…she got an odd feeling from him. His eyes locked with hers, and she felt shivers go down her spine.

Getting up slowly she walked along the side of the hall until she reached the Entrance hall. Relived to be out of his presence she snuck her way outside onto the snowy grounds.

It was cold, she had to admit that, but still it was refreshing to get some outside air. She hadn't really been outside since the Hogsmede trip. She was so caught up in the moment that she didn't notice someone sneak up behind her.

"Excuse me Miss?"

Emily turned to find a young man standing there in fancy dress robes. His hair was dark, but a mask that was worn to a masquerade ball covered his face.

"Would you mind a dance?"

Emily couldn't say no… she felt something inside her stir. "Yes"

He took her hand and pulled her close. His hand slipped around her waist as she rested her head against his chest. She could feel a faint heart beat, and it calmed her. She moved to the rhythm of the music that was flowing out the windows of the castle, and lost herself in his embrace.

As the song ended he pulled away and looked at her in the eyes. She felt frozen, as if she was being pulled into is soul…and then he removed his mask.

"Tom Riddle?" she questioned.

With a sly smirk he pulled her in closer and kissed her full on the lips. She immediately melted against his touch. He had claimed her in this moment of passion and weakness. He deepened his kiss as she felt her knees grow weaker and weaker. She was about to finally give in completely when a scream was heard from the castle.

A/N well that be it for this chappie…tell me what you think