Chapter 11: Bloody Valentine, The Dance and Cho's renewed interest

The rest of January went by quickly. Harry and Draco talked when they could without trying to draw too much attention. Harry had completely forgotten the incident in the locker room with Draco and things were just as they had been between them since Christmas. Classes were as hard as ever as the professors worked them endlessly, giving them tons of homework. Everything seemed to be going well so far, maybe a bit to well.

Harry awoke the morning of February first lazily and lay back in his comfortable four poster bed. He kept his eyes closed as he lay still for a moment before stretching slowly, languidly in an almost cat-like fashion with a small throaty groan. Finally opening his eyes; tanned lids rising to reveal sleepy green eyes, Harry stared at the mahogany canopy of his bed and sighed heavily. It was the second month of term and so far everything seemed to be going fine. Very minor scar action, no Voldemort appearances nothing really bad happening so far. Maybe I can get through this year with little to no incidents, Harry thought only half joking and only half hopeful. Stretching a bit once more and scratching at his bare stomach lightly Harry arose from the bed.

It was still a bit early and the other boys were still asleep, so grabbing everything he needed for his morning shower he lazily walked from the room. By the time he was almost done his shower, just finishing rinsing, the other four boys stumbled in muttering groggy good mornings to Harry who was wrapping a towel around his waist. Nodding and mumbling back he quickly left to finish getting ready. Soon all the boys were fully awake and dressed and heading down to the common room where they met up with Hermione exchanging morning greetings before they left to make their ways to the Great Hall.

As Harry walked along with Ron and Hermione on his left he got hit with a feeling of something like apprehension and dread. He faltered in his step imperceptibly at the heavy feeling but continued to walk. The feeling seemed to deepen with every step he took towards the Great Hall. As they neared the door of the Great Hall he could feel his heart beating faster, feel and hear the thrum of it in his ears as they walked through and sat in their seats; Harry on one side facing the Slytherin table and Ron and Hermione on the other side facing Harry.

"Harry are you alright you look a bit flushed?" Hermione inquired as they began to pile food onto their plates.

"Yes Hermione I'm fine," Harry answered with a small smile as he nibbled on his toast. "I haven't had the chance to really read those spell books you and Remus got me and I'm a bit excited about trying out some of those spells." He elaborated, the lie falling easily from his lips. It worked as he thought it would and Hermione's eyes lit up at the mention of books.

"I looked into it briefly before I sent it to you and there are some very interesting hexes in there. I even bought a copy for myself," Hermione babbled in her excitement.

"Ron," Harry cut in, not really wanting to hear Hermione's 'teacher-babble' at this moment. "Did you finish the Charms essay due on Thursday?"

Hermione turned and looked at Ron with a glare and a, "Did you Ronald? Well?" when he didn't answer immediately. Ron looked at Hermione with wide eyes before looking at Harry with a pleading expression.

"Um, well no not yet but Hermione! It's not due for another three days," he whined as Hermione glared harder and started in on a rant about N.E.W.T.s, and applying yourself to your education. "Thanks a lot mate," Ron muttered to Harry with a tiny glare as Hermione went on. Harry shrugged half apologetically and was about to go back to thinking about the feelings he felt that morning when owl post arrived.

Harry looked up not really expecting anything when he saw a large black eagle owl flying his way with a big red bow with black ribbon. The owl dropped the box into the now empty spot in front of Harry who had pushed his plate away. The box landed neatly on the table and Harry stared at it as many around the Hall did.

"Harry maybe you sho–" but whatever Hermione was about to say was cut off as the bow at the top of the box slowly undid itself, the ribbons on each side falling softly to the table. Harry stood from his seat and backed up a few steps, the others surrounding him doing the same as the lid to the box opened and a metallic-coppery smell filled the air. Harry knew that scent only to well and paled drastically as the sides fell away to reveal a red and bloody human heart on a silver plate.

There were gasps and screams around the hall as many caught sight of it. Those still surrounding it at the table scrambled quickly away. Harry heard retching but continued to stare wide eyed at the human heart. He didn't even noticing the other owl swooping in until the howler was resting beside the heart. And before he could try to do anything or get it out of the Hall the howler unfolded itself and the silence was broken by the cold, high sibilant voice that was Lord Voldemort.

I KNOW THIS IS EARLY POTTER BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD SEND YOU AN EARLY VALENTINE'S GIFT, RATHER APPROPRIATE IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF. THE HEART CAME FROM A MUDBLOOD WITH RED HAIR AND GREEN EYES…SORT OF LIKE YOU MOTHER REALLY! (There was a low hissing laugh that followed that statement) HAPPY EARLY VALENTINE'S DAY POTTER, UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN…AND HERE'S AN EXTRA LITTLE GIFT FOR YOU!

And then the Hall was filled with the high pitched screams of a woman and her pleading that lasted about ten seconds before the howler destroyed itself. The hall was silent, not a sound made as all stared at the Gryffindor table. There were many pale faces around the Hall, some even a bit green. Harry didn't see any of it as words kept running through his head – mudblood, red hair and green eyes, like your mother – he kept hearing that and the screams echoing in his mind. Then there was shift in the air, a crackle of magic that rippled out from one source. Harry. It was small at first until the air began to get heavier and thicker with the magic being exuded, the air seeming to hum faintly.

"Harry?" the voice was so far away it seemed and sounded muffled but Harry wasn't eve paying attention to that – just like you mother – no not paying attention to those calling his name at all. He felt something building up in him pushing against something else that seemed to be blocking it path. He felt the pressure of this something raging at being blocked, spiraling and twisting wildly within him. He felt pressure at his temples, behind his eyes and from somewhere within him – like your mother – that he knew from classes was his magical core. His body began to ache all over; a dull throb in his limbs, hands, feet, chest, all over. Like you mother. And then the world spun and everything went black.

He came to consciousness slowly like he was swimming through syrup or some other thick substance. His head pounded mercilessly and he decided to keep his eyes shut. Anyway his eyes hurt too along with a dull pain throughout his whole body. Eyes closed he listened around for any sound and heard muffled noises. Voices, perhaps? He couldn't tell as his head felt like someone was taking a blunt object to it and his ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton. Deciding the muffled noises were unimportant as he couldn't understand them he turned his mind to why he felt like he did.

At first he couldn't remember why and he furrowed his brow which hurt and he stopped doing it before digging deeper for an answer. Thinking hard he remembered getting up and ready for the day, heading to the Great Hall, talking to Hermione and then owl post came. He struggled to remember what happened next but was having a hard time grasping the events. Concentrating harder the events began to form slowly, excruciatingly so. The owl post came and he received a red box with black ribbon and bow and then…the box opened and…gasping silently the whole thing came back to him.

A red and bloody heart…

Human heart.

A howler and Voldemort's voice...

Mudblood...red hair...green eyes...like your mother...

He cried out and sat up quickly and then groaned at the pain that shot through his head and body.

"Take it easy Mr. Potter!" came the sharp tone of Madam Pomfrey. "Here," she continued handing him a vial that he looked at blankly with wide eyes still lost in memories. Like you mother. "Well drink it Mr. Potter you no doubt have a terrible headache." Pomfrey said a considerably softer tone to her voice.

Harry mechanically drank the potion not even tasting it as it went down. Like you mother. That voice kept whispering, slithering through his mind. He vaguely noticed Pomfrey hand him two more vials that he drank just as mechanically. He felt the pain in his head and body slowly fade and he pushed that voice and those words to the back of his mind. Somewhat calmer Harry finally looked around him. Besides Pomfrey who was standing beside him running her wand over him Dumbledore was also in the room sitting in a comfy arm chair.

"It's good to see you finally awake Harry," Dumbledore said with a small smile, eyes less twinkle-y than usual. Beside Harry Pomfrey 'hmm-ed' as she finished her examination.

"From what I can see you're fine Mr. Potter. I think the shock of the situation interacted with your magic, as extreme emotions tend to do and you blacked out from the mix of emotions and you magic running wild. But your fine now as far as I can tell," Pomfrey stated. Harry looked at Dumbledore before looking to Pomfrey, hands rubbing together palm to palm.

"How long have I been out?" he asked, voice just loud enough to hear. He ran his hand up and down his clothed arm, scratching his shoulder absent-mindedly.

"You've been out," Pomfrey paused with a thoughtful look. "About three hours now." Harry nodded slowly not knowing what to really say to that. He was focusing most of his energy on keeping that voice out of his mind.

"When can I get out here?" he asked voice still low and eyes fixed on the white bed sheet.

"Just to make sure your fine I want you to stay for a little bit more. If your fine and haven't gotten a headache or any other pain by dinner time then you can go to the Great Hall." Pomfrey said with a firm tone. Harry sighed, not really wanting to stay here any longer.

"It's just to make sure there are no other problems Harry, it won't be so bad." Dumbledore said, twinkle fully returned at the sour look on Harry's face. Harry just nodded his head silently. "Harry how do you fe-" Dumbledore began before being cut off.

"I think I'm going to have a lie down, sir," the tone was polite if a bit cool as Harry moved to get under the sheets of the bed, pulling them up to his shoulders and turning on his side, back to Dumbledore. A look of mild irritation flashed across the old face before the old man sighed.

"Alright Harry but if you want to talk my door is always open," Dumbledore said as he rose from the armchair, vanishing it and walking slowly from the infirmary, mind slightly trouble. Harry lay on the bed as Pomfrey walked away to her office with an order to call her if needed. He shut his eyes tightly trying to block out everything. He wished all this was a horrible nightmare that wasn't real, that never happened. Like you mother. He didn't realize he was even crying until a small almost inaudible sob escaped from his throat. He should've known things were going too easy for it to continue without problems. He was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived after all and nothing was ever easy for him. Like you mother. He cried softly, tears streaming down his face and nose and onto his pillow. Eyes closed the image of the bloody heart taunted him mercilessly as if painted to the back of his eyes lids. He gasped softly as he choked on some tears and shook his head as much as possible trying to get rid of the image. Like quicksand the image faded only to be replaced with a horrid picture of a woman with red hair and green eyes with a gaping hole in her chest where a heart should be. Like your mother. He cried until he drifted off to sleep dreams of bloody hearts and red haired, green eyed women haunting his sleep.

Harry didn't go to the Great Hall that night and had dinner in the infirmary with his friends, who had come by before to see if he was going. It was a strained affair between the three as Hermione attempted to get Harry to talk about what happened and how he was feeling and he blatantly stopped all her attempts with either flat declinations or cold looks. Ron had also tried, rather awkwardly, to get Harry to talk with the same results. After their fourth attempt with no success they gave up and the three ate in tensed silence.

They had left for the Tower after that and once back there Harry had gone up to the dorm where he now was sitting. The curtains were shut, locked and silenced for privacy as he sat on his bed Indian style with his journal, pen and butterfly knife with him. He was staring at the knife silently, eyes dull. Picking up the knife he pulled of the shirt he was wearing and, with wand in other hand murmured something under his breath. The glamour disappeared and the scars that adorned his upper body both self-inflicted and not became visible.

Putting his wand down he clutched the knife tighter in his hand and looked at his arms. Closing his eyes he pressed cold steel to the warm flesh of his bicep, held it there for a moment feeling the pressure before dragging the blade sideways across his bicep. It wasn't a deep cut, no he still had enough of his bearings not to cut too deeply, but the skin broke and blood bloomed over the cut before dripping down his arm and the cold ache receded a bit. Moving the blade down a bit from the first cut in an almost mechanical way he laid steel to bloody flesh and made another cut. The ache faded a bit more.

Switching hands he repeated the actions feeling the ache fading some more. Finally setting the knife down on the bed he let the cuts bleed, red crimson liquid flowing freely down his arms. He sat and stared straight ahead, dull eyes seeing nothing. He sat that way for a few minutes before grabbing his wand and cleaning the blood up. The blood flow had stopped and he didn't bother putting a shirt back on debating whether to put the glamour back on and decided in the end to put it back on. Precaution was best, he thought and even his thoughts sounded dry and dull. Flipping the knife back closed he put it to the side. Picking up his journal and a pen he opened to a blank page.

Feb. 1, 1997

Today started out fine, I woke up and felt good everything seemed to be going so well. But I'm Harry fucking Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and nothing can ever go well in my life, right? Right. So I head to the Great Hall with my friends and I start getting this feeling of like impending doom or some morbid shit like that. It was like dread and apprehension that only seemed to get worse the closer we got to the Great Hall. That should have been my fucking clue right there that whatever was wrong or going to go wrong was happening there. Breakfast started out okay though the feeling stayed with me.

Then owl post came and I got a wonderful gift (notice my sarcasm). Well what happened next was just, horrible and traumatizing to say the least. Voldemort, fucking bastard that he is, sent me an early valentine's gift. A human heart. Yes, a bloody human heart. As if that wasn't enough the bastard sent a howler also. I don't remember the whole thing but there is a part of it I do remember. He'd said: The heart came from a mudblood (his words) with red hair and green eyes. Sort of like your mother. That stung me badly. I felt that murderous rage I had for Him after Sirius die resurface with a vengeance. I don't even really remember much of what happened, just that I felt my magic trying to lash out and something like a block or something on my magic. Maybe I'll check into that, who knows? Anyway, I blacked out after that and woke in the infirmary.

Truth is told I never expected Voldemort to do something like that. But the man wants me dead after all and if there is one thing I know about the bastard he'd want me broken first. A pride thing on his part I think. Like your mother. It was said in that same voice, another statement that was stuck in my head. Kill the spare… Like your mother. It was all in the same high cold hissing voice.

Kill the spare.

Like your mother.

Another statement for me to carry with me, in my head always. They say bad things come in pairs or so I've heard but with me I'd say to double that. I AM Harry Potter after all.

The next nine days passed and in the beginning the stares and whispers weren't as easy to ignore as he had been able to do before. It seemed everyone was looking at him and some of the stares were looks that said 'is he going to blow up' and others were looks of pity that he couldn't stand or the smirks some of the Slytherins gave him. Draco played his role in a more subdued way than in previous years but sent a note to Harry letting him know he didn't mean any of it. The blonde stayed away from saying anything too harsh which Harry was thankful for.

Slowly over the last few days of the week things eased up a bit and the staring and whispering wasn't as oppressive as the first two days was. On the ninth day, the following Monday, Dumbledore made the announcement of a Valentine's dance on the fourteenth for fifth through seventh years. Harry wasn't particularly excited about it but refrained from saying anything about what he thought.

The days leading up to the dance were filled with shopping for dress robes if needed and getting dates for the dance. Harry had made a promise to himself at the announcement of the dance that he wasn't going to ask anyone and was going alone, though he would have preferred to not go at all. Hermione and Ron persisted that he asks someone but he had firmly refused. The few girls who had gotten the courage to ask him he had politely turned down. While he did get new dress robes he steadily stood by his choice to go alone. He knew Draco was going with sixth year Slytherin Tracey Davis himself as the blonde had said when they had last talked. Something about Malfoy's and not showing up alone at social gatherings, Harry had really just tuned the blonde out.

As the day of the dance approached Harry felt more miserable by the second about the whole event. He was still feeling pretty bad from the human heart incident and the dance wasn't lightening his spirits any. But what could go wrong at the dance that hadn't already gone wrong with this month? He was sure that at least nothing would go wrong, or at least he hoped.

The day of the dance was here and Harry had just walked into the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione and some other Gryffindors. The Hall had been decorated with red and white and pink streamers everywhere. Red and pink cut out hearts with white lace frills were floating among the candles near the enchanted ceiling. Pink fairy lights flitted around the hall darting among candles, hearts and people. Hermione was saying how nice the Hall turned out. Harry thought it looked a little nauseating himself but didn't say anything as he shared an eye roll with Ron. Things were still a bit rocky among the three of them but they had settled their differences enough to be around each other and it not being uncomfortable.

Situated around the Hall instead of the house tables were small round tables that sat six people. The group of Gryffindors walked toward a table taking a seat. Neville, who was wearing sable colored robes pulled out the seat for his date, Ginny, who was wearing dark red robes with black trim. Next to Ginny sat Hermione who was wearing azure blue robes whose chair was pulled out by Ron who was wearing rust red colored robes. Harry sat between Ron and Neville, Ron on his right and Neville his left in emerald green robes with gold trim. He was the only one without a date at the table since he had come alone.

The Hall wasn't completely filled yet and slowly students began trickling in. As the others talked Harry let his eyes drift over the Hall, looking at the students. The majority of fifth through seventh year Gryffindors was there already, as was the Ravenclaws and most of the Hufflepuffs. Only a few of the Slytherins were there and those students not already there were trickling in through the door. He scanned the hall and sighed, he really would prefer not to be there. The month started out bad as it is and this dance really wasn't improving his mood.

"And here comes Malfoy flaunting in late," Harry heard Ron mutter and looked towards the door. "Bloody git," Ron added as they table turned to the doors. Draco Malfoy stood just inside them in grey silk robes that shined silver the light, customary haughty smirk in place. His chin length hair fell softly around his face, a few strands drifting into stormy grey eyes. On his arm was Tracey Davis whose chestnut brown shoulder blade length hair fell in beautiful spiral curls. She was wearing pale powder blue silk robes with darker blue trim that matched her pale crystal blue eyes that had darker blue flecks in it. They walked into the Hall and over to a table where Blaise, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle were seated.

"He's got a flair for the dramatic almost worse than Snape," Ginny commented as she turned back to the table. Harry looked on a little longer absentmindedly thinking Draco's hair looked nicer down then gelled back before focusing his mind back to his table. Once everyone was in the Hall Dumbledore stood and gave a small speech about this and that, Harry wasn't really paying attention and then clapped his hand as the food for the meal appeared. The six ate and chatted as soft music played in the background. It would have been a nice setting if Harry hadn't been so moody about not wanting to be there. As the meal came to an end and people began to get up to dance Harry felt himself relaxing a bit.

He was sitting at the table lounged back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest staring unfocusedly over the dance floor. He was absentmindedly bobbing his head to the music. He was so focused on not focusing on anything that he didn't here the person calling him until they tapped his shoulder. Turning around he came face to face with Hannah Abbot who was smiling at him shyly. Inwardly he groaned having a vague idea what this was about.

"Yes Hannah?" he asked politely, masking the annoyance and nervousness he felt.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe dance with me Harry?" she asked, biting a bit on her bottom lip. Harry repressed a sigh. He didn't really want to dance, memories of the Yule Dance fourth year springing to his head. He'd gotten marginally better since then but couldn't really do the whole 'formal dancing' like the wizarding world seemed to be partial too.

"Sorry Hannah but I think I'm just going to sit and watch for bit," Harry replied with an apologetic grin. Hannah pouted and sighed.

"Are you sure?" she asked and he nodded his head. "Alright, maybe later then?"

"Maybe," Harry replied with a shrug and watched the blonde haired girl smile and walk off. Harry sighed and just held himself from rolling his eyes. This was one of the reasons he hadn't wanted to come to the dance. Standing from the table he walked to the table along the opposite wall that had snacks and drinks and got him self something to drink before going back to his seat.

Over the next half hour five girls from all houses except Slytherin came to ask him to dance and he turned each one down as politely as possible. He was developing a headache, a small pain behind his eyes as the night wore on and was desperate to leave. He had talked to his friends throughout the night when they weren't dancing and Hermione was all huffy with him for not dancing with any of the girls who asked him. He had passed Draco once and traded a few insults and barbs on his way to and from the snack table but other than that had mostly stayed at the table.

Deciding he had stayed long enough as the dance was almost over he rose and started making his way to the door. As he was halfway across the Hall he was stopped bye someone saying his name behind him. The voice was familiar and he closed his eyes before opening them, pasting on a smile and turning around. Cho Chang stood behind him in her sapphire blue robes with a brilliant smile on her face. He felt the slightest twinge in his gut. Cho was a beautiful girl after all but he had lost most of his attraction to her after last year. Putting on a smile he looked at her and said, "Yes Cho?"

"Hey Harry, would you like to dance with me?" Cho asked sweetly with a small flutter of her black lashes looking at Harry from under them. Harry swallowed a little, part annoyance at being delayed from leaving and part at the look Cho was giving him. He paused and thought for a minute about what to do but in the end decided he really didn't want to dance.

Shaking his head and pasting on the well practiced apologetic smile he'd adopted over the night he looked back at the Ravenclaw girl. "No Cho but thank you, I think I'm just going to go back to the Tower. I'm pretty tired," Harry said with a shrug. Cho pouted and stepped closer to Harry laying a hand on his arm.

"Please? It's just one dance," she said looking into Harry's eyes. He bit his lip and looked at her, at her slightly protruding lower lip and the cute pout on her face. He felt arousal curl in his belly because, really, she was a very beautiful girl.

"Sorry Cho but I'm really not good at dancing," he stuttered out blushing faintly. He would much rather not embarrass himself with his poor attempt at formal dancing, thank you very much!

"If you sure Harry," she said with a sad look on her face, pout still very much evident. Harry nodded and she gave him a small smile as he turned and continued on his course out of the Hall not seeing the look in Cho's eyes that had narrowed at his back and held a calculating glint.

Three days after the dance Cho approached Harry again and asked him out on a date to Hogsmeade. Though he was skeptical about a repeat performance of their one and only other date back in fifth year, Cho had assured that they wouldn't be going to Madam Puddifoot's again. After a moment of thought he had agreed thinking no harm could come out of trying.

Now he sat in his room, bed hangings drawn, locked and silenced as he sat with his back to the headboard. His black leather bound journal and pen lay in front of him in his lap.

Feb. 17, 1997

Well what is there to really say about what has happened? Cho asked me out for a date to Hogsmeade this Saturday and I said yes. I'm not as stuck on her as I was in 4th and 5th year but I still think she's a pretty girl. I mean who wouldn't? I told Ron and Hermione about it and they think it's nice that I'm 'finally doing something besides being by myself constantly' as Hermione had said. I like being alone a lot though because it gives me time to think about things I cant talk about with Ron or Hermione. The stuff like I talked about with Draco in the astronomy tower that night. They would understand where I'm coming from with my views.

Speaking of Draco I told him about the date and he in true Malfoy fashion asked me why I was going on a date with her when the last one was 'a big fucking mess' as he had put it. Now that I think of it I'm not actually sure why I'm doing it. Maybe some futile hope that there's a chance between us though I'm not as enthusiastic about going out with her as I would have been last year. Well anyway, I'm going out with here this Saturday, I wonder how things will go this time?

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Theflamingphoenix, Vampire-child-of-the-ligh, Hkokuryuha, Draco8448, butterfly-soul, goddessa39, and i love you (who was anonymous): Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I really enjoy them. Sorry for the late-ness of this chapter but I've been busy and only able to do so much. So please forgive me!