CHAPTER 19: Sweet Sixteen: A Declaration of War

The midday sun shone down on Draco, his face flushed with sweat. He had walked non-stop for over a day now, his hatred fuelling him on. He still did not know where he apparated to after the police arrived at the scene last night, but it didn't matter. The cloak was slung over his shoulder casually, and he looked like any other young teenager. This was the first time he was wearing muggle clothes, and he found them to be far more comfortable in this blistering heat. He walked along the streets, passed shops and display windows, no one paying him any mind. A screen in one of the displays caught his attention and he stepped closer to listen to the young woman talk on the news.

"…. In other disturbing events, the presumed arsonist who destroyed a manor in Manchester has supposedly struck again, severely injuring five young men late last night. They were burnt almost to death in the early hours of the morning . Police reports are inconclusive as the victims were being treated at Faith Hospital, but have neither information nor leads to the assailant, who is presumed armed and extremely dangerous. Now, on to the sports with Mike Shoreway – Thank you Shirley, newly acquired Manchester City signing Nicholas Anelka has been fined yet again-.."

Draco continued walking, seamlessly blending in with the human traffic of the shopping district . After a few more hours of aimless wandering he detoured into a park, and decided to take a rest stop under the shade of a tree on a park bench. After minutes of resting his head against the backrest, he eventually dozed off. Some hours later, his haunted slumber was interrupted by a rude kick on his leg. Draco opened his eyes wearily, and looked up at the mass of flesh that was now blocking the sun , throwing his pink, fat, face in shadow.

"Hey you! You can't sleep here! Does this look like a homeless shelter to you!" Dudley Dursley said, surrounded by three other stupid-looking boys.

"Leave me alone, you fat muggle," Draco said offhandedly. Dudley froze and backed off, frightened out of his wits.

"You're- you're another like him! Li-Like Harry!" Dudley stuttered. Draco's eyes shot up at the mention of Potter's name.

"You know Potter?" Draco asked, standing up. " Where is he?" he demanded.

"Look I don't want any trouble, you've got it all wrong…" Dudley stammered in fright, much to the confusion of his friends. Draco's arm shot out and he grabbed Dudley by the neck of his jacket, and pulled him close, looking him almost eye to eye. Dudley's goons advanced in a threatening manner, wanting to really sock it into him. Draco's eyes flared and he shot them a look from behind blazing red eyes. After the dust cloud left in their wake had settled, Draco turned his attention back to the big (and apparently cowardly) gang leader.

"Listen- you fat fuck. I want to know where Harry Potter is. You will tell me, now." There were no ultimatums, no death threats, but the finality of his words scared the scrotum sacs out of Dudley.

"Aaaah- there was a letter! Harry wasn't home but I read it…A letter form Cho somebody, saying something about a party at her house Sunday…"

Draco released him, and Dudley fell in the dirt, scrambled to get to his feet and ran as fast as he could through the back streets of Little Winging.

"Oh, so he is going by Chang. Looks like I've got a party to crash tonight."

Harry was waiting downstairs for Hermione to finish get dressed that night. She and Tonks were gone most of the day to go shopping and only returned a few hours ago. Harry had Hermione to himself only for a few hours. They both woke in the early afternoon. They had lunch together in a comfortable silence. As soon as she was finished Tonks arrived and Hermione gave him a quick birthday kiss and "I'll be back later" before she and Tonks left for town. He and Hagrid talked most of the afternoon, but even that was weird, Hagrid was acting strangely as if trying to keep a secret but doing a terrible job of hiding it. Harry did not question him, he respected Hagrid's privacy. When Tonks and Hermione finally returned late that afternoon loaded with shopping bags she gave him a brief 'hi!' and kiss on the cheek and went directly up to her room. Tonks gave him a warm hug; grabbed the sides of his face and smooched him playfully with an exaggerated smack of lips. She wished him 'Happy birthday' and gave him her gift. It was a leather jacket, and it looked cool on him. He thanked Tonks, she winked at him and followed Hermione up the stairs.

He had went upstairs half an hour after they disappeared into Hermione's room, showered and got dressed, had some juice, stowed away his sword and cloak on the bike, checked all the windows and locks, paced around the manor just to double check everything, then sat down. They were up there for nearly two hours and Harry was getting impatient. He was about to get up from the sofa and call her down when he heard the door open and Hermione came down into the room.

Harry's jaw dropped, she was absolutely stunning. Her hair was all done up and curled softly around her face, she was wearing a delicate black top that showed off her soft curves and drooped low in the back. It was held up by thin straps that Harry itched to slide down her porcelain shoulders, while skin-tight pants exaggerated the length of her legs. On her feet were cute little heels that had two delicate straps around her ankles. She smiled at him, and he had to admit, after years of seeing her at school, he could finally say that he was actually speechless by the beauty before him.

"How do I look?' she asked, seeing the expression on his face.

"Er- like the most beautiful girl in the world," Harry said, finally able to speak. "I am the luckiest guy ever," he continued, still a bit dumbstruck. She came up to him and kissed him softly on the lips, and took his arm in hers.

"C'mon, lets' go. You're already late for your own party."

Harry smiled; it was worth the wait.

Cho was up and about, making sure that her friends had drinks and enjoying themselves. Everyone was here, and it her house was filled beyond capacity, some hanging out on the lawn talking and joking. The music was blaring, the people were dancing, and everyone was having a good time. But where was Harry?

Fred, George, Ron and Ginny had just arrived, Fred coming with his girlfriend Katie and George moving solo. Ginny still hadn't given up on Harry, and was looking like a vixen in her hot red dress. A lot of the guys turned heads at her appearance, only to back off from Ron's killer glare. Ron looked tough with his hair windswept and black shirt and jeans. His face was unshaven, he usually kept it clean but ever since he suspected Harry having a thing for Hermione he completely forgot about shaving. Now his face was a bit scruffy, and he looked older than his sixteen years of age. Some of Ginny's classmates even came up to her to talk about the availability of her older brother, much to her embarrassment. Ron definitely looked like he did not want to be here, but his brothers talked him into it and so here he was.

"George, weren't you with that waitress of the ice cream shop on Diagon alley? Why didn't you come with her?"

"Ah...that is where you have a lot to learn dear sister: Only hunters get game," he smiled, and prowled off into the crowd.

Ron smirked. "I'm gonna get a drink," he told Fred and Katie. He stalked off, arrogantly pushing some Hufflepuff boy out of the way. Luna found Ginny in the crowd and came over to talk to her. Ginny was momentarily surprised; she did not recognize Luna with her new look. Luna was very pretty with her hair done and all dressed up. Her strangely coloured eyes added to the vagueness and mystery that perpetually surrounded her.

"Hi. Strange party isn't it?" Luna asked dreamily. Ginny looked around, it was a normal-looking party to her, actually it was looking like a great party.

Perplexed, she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well it's a birthday party, but Harry's is not here."

"Oh." Ginny replied, not sure what to say. "Maybe he's a little late, maybe he-" She was cut off by a deep engine roar coming down the street. "That's him coming now." Luna's eyes widened at the sound she was hearing.

"What is that noise?"

"You'll see," she replied, following all the others who were crowding outside to see what the sound was.

"HARRY ! THIS IS WILD! " Hermione screamed over the engine into Harry's ear. His hair was whipping back into her face and he turned slightly and nodded, screaming "yeah!" but the sound was carried away by the wind. He saw the lights of Cho's house and the people spilling out of it unto the front lawn, looking down the street to see the origin of that roar.

"Well so much for making a quiet entry, this thing makes a lot of noise when on the ground!"

"Wait, THIS MOTORBIKE COULD FLY!" she screamed, trying to be heard. He nodded again, and began to slow down. Faces started to become distinct; he could see Dean and Terry Boot pointing at them. He pulled up to the lawn, Hermione still clutching him tightly.

"It's okay, you could let go now," he said, after Hermione refused to let loose her grip when they stopped.

"Oh. Sorry." She dismounted a bit shakily and smoothed out the wrinkles on her pants, rubbing her buttocks. She might have thought of this as an innocent gesture, but Harry was thinking about something completely different.

"We're here, I guess. C'mon." He took off his jacket and put it on the bike. He was wearing a black shirt that Hermione bought him and black jeans along with his horntail boots. Dean came up to him and shook his hand, wishing him happy birthday.

"Wow! Harry you have a Harley? Since when? How come no police saw you?"

"Just lucky I guess," he replied, grinning. A lot of the guys there shook his hand and complimented him on his bike, and a few even complimented his date, soft enough not to be overheard. .

"Damn Harry, she is hot, you one lucky bloke, y'know that dontcha?" Cantonma said.

"Definitely a keeper," Oliver wood said. "She's brilliant and beautiful, can't go wrong with that."

"Thanks guys, needed a club to the head to realize that myself," he said, bouncing their fists. He took Hermione, who was just saying hi to some of their other friends outside, inside to get her something to drink. "I need to say hi to my gracious host, I'll be right back." She nodded, and began talking with Neville and Ginny.

Cho was watching his and Hermione's arrival from her bedroom window with a heavy heart. It was too late now. She definitely had blew it. She looked down at her dresser and the various bottles she had there ….unless-? Against her own rationale, she sprayed on some of the perfume lightly on her neck, and went down to greet him.

Ron had heard the commotion of Harry's arrival, but paid it no heed. He had poured himself a drink and was idly sipping it at the bar. There was a sound of footsteps behind him and a voice he knew all to well.

"Hey Ron, glad you came."

"Happy Birthday, Harry," he said, void of any emotion. He still hadn't turned around, leaving Harry no choice but to come around so he could talk face to face.

"Listen man, I'm really sorry. I am. I never wanted this to happen between us."

"Yeah? Fine job you're doing, could have sworn you were here with a certain Hermione Granger draped all over your arm. I can see you're really stressed out in 'trying'."

The words stung, but Ron had a right to be angry. "Ron, c'mon man, don't be like this. You're my best friend, and no girl could ever replace that. You are the closest thing I ever had to a brother, now with Sirius gone you're my only family."

Ron looked up at Harry. It was shocking that a guy he thought had everything he ever wanted, had nothing at all. All Harry ever wanted was a family to call his own, and considered him to be the only family he had left. Hey, it wasn't like there were sparks between Hermione and me, it may have crashed and burned as fast as it took off, if it ever did. If Hermione could be happy, and Harry could be happy, well maybe a little self sacrifice couldn't kill him, after all the times Harry had literally risked his neck to saved his. He had pondered on this train of thought for a while, but the fact that Harry needed him as a brother sealed it. They were best friends, and nothing could stop that. Hermione was watching the encounter with frayed nerves, she couldn't bear the two of them fighting over her. She put her fingers to her mouth, biting a nail in anxiety.

Ron stood up, looking down slightly at Harry. In the exact same gesture as when they met after the Cannon's match Harry and Ron clasped hands and raised it in a firm grip at shoulder level, their muscles tightening in the arms. Ron smiled grimly, and Harry grinned.

"Brothers," Ron said, returning the grin.

"For ever!" Harry replied, gripping his hand harder, and Ron did the same, a bond built in strength, unbreakable by any means. They let go and grinned at each other, Ron slapping him on his back. "Cheers on being 16 mate. Let me pour you a corker, birthday boy!" Ron mixed a strong drink of firewhiskey and some muggle alcohol for Harry and one for himself.

"On three! 1- 3!" they both picked up their cups and shot it down in a one. They slammed the cups back on the bar and their eyes watered. They laughed at the ludicrous expressions on each other faces' and Ron poured them another. They were laughing again, the indomitable Duo of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were once again ready for action. Hermione laughed out, she was beside herself. Ron motioned her over, and she went to them smiling up at Ron.

"Hey," she said brightly, still not sure if to hug him or not. Ron took matters into his own hands and pulled her into a friendly hug. Hermione laughed again, she was so relieved that things were peachy between them once again. Cho watched all that happened from the foot of the stairs, and smiled sadly. At least Harry was happy once again, even if she was not part of that. She cared for him deeply, and wanted him to be happy, he deserved that at least.

"He is here, Lestrange." The hunter's voice echoed unnaturally, rumbling softly through the still night air. "The girl with the white pants is the one shielding him, I can sense it."

"Oh- that Granger mudblood. She will make excellent bait, Warlock. Master will be pleased." She smiled darkly from her position on the rooftop opposite. Statham fingered the hilt of his sword. Lucky for you if he is, he mused silently. He jumped off the five-story apartment building and waited for Lestrange to fly down on her broom. Let's see if she will live to see day, shall we? He smiled, and disappeared into the shadows.

Ginny Weasley was having a great time. She secretly knew she never had a chance against Hermione, and her crush on Harry was just that, a crush. The guys at the party were only trying to give her their best lines, and she was having fun just seeing their attempts at being players. She even laughed at a year four student who had the audacity to proclaim his undying love for her and couldn't even remember her name. Getting another drink at the bar, she glanced over at the trio in a semi quiet corner of the living room. She was glad that her older brother, Hermione and Harry were all getting along again, the two of them dangerous in black and all the girls wanted a piece of them. Even her good friend Luna was watching the pair with more than idle interest.

"Luna?" she called to her. Luna snapped out of her trance and looked at her.

"hmm?" she said, obviously spaced out.

"What do you think of Harry?"

"I'd be his sex slave in a second," she said matter-of-factly, not changing expression.

Ginny's jaw dropped, did she just hear what she thought she heard? She decided she needed some air; maybe she had too much butterbeers. She walked outside and took a deep breath of the cool night air. Suddenly she felt as if there was not a care in the world, a sensation of complete happiness washed over her, her mind numb.

"..go..get the mudblood granger…bring her to me…."

She walked back into the house, bumping into some people as she went. Neville Longbottom was watching her whole night, trying to think up of something witty to say. He noticed her leave, and noticed her come back in as well. She was moving a bit oddly, not really trying to avoid people she walked by, and ended up spilling Padma's drink. He followed her progress to the trio in the corner, saw her tap on Hermione's shoulder, and say something to her.

"Hermione, come outside for a second, I would like to talk with you," Ginny said, staring directly into her eyes.

Hermione was a bit taken back by the direct gaze Ginny was giving her, but excused herself from Ron and Harry and followed her outside. Curious, Neville followed them through the crowd of people, something was not right. Keeping a safe distance behind them he followed them to the front lawn where they bent the corner to the side of the house and disappeared from view.

He hurried around the corner, hearing voices.

"GINNY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Hermione screamed.

"Stupefy!" there was a flash, then a thud on the ground. Neville looked at Hermione lying on the ground, and Ginny pointing her wand at her, slightly glowing. He looked further behind her, and saw the unmistakeable face of Bellatrix Lestrange, smiling under a black hood.

"YOU!" He screamed. Lestrange eyes shot up at him in surprise, and Ginny did the same, moving identically to Lestrange. She raised her wand, and Ginny did the same, and both pointed their wands. "Stupefy !"

Neville was quick to respond, his wand out in the blink of an eye. "PROTEGO !"

The two stunners reflected off his shield charm, hitting the picket fence and shattering some planks of wood. "Incantum Finite!" he screamed, pointing at Ginny. It struck her in the chest, and she regained her senses for a microsecond, then collapsed as the sudden release of Lestrange's mind control knocked her out.

"Well looky here, isn't it our favourite 'nearly' orphan. Never did finish that lesson we started in the department of mysteries now did we?" her face twisted in a sinister smile. Neville ignored her and did not hesitate to attack.

"Petrificulus totalus !"

Bellatrix laughed out, and allowed the spell to hit her. Neville was a bit confused for a second as she froze in position, petrified. He inched closer, not quite understanding how it was so easy. As soon as he was with in a few feet of her, she moved without warning, easily disengaging Neville's spell.

"CRUCIO !" Lestrange screamed, cackling loudly. Neville didn't even get a chance to scream as his body buckled in pain. "My my…." She mused, her eyes gleaming as she watched him writhe in agony on the ground. After torturing pathetic Longbottom until he passed out, she began to wave her wand intricately, prancing around the three bodies on the ground, putting the girls' hair into pigtails and adding a tremendous amount of blusher on their faces. After transifugring their clothes into catholic schoolgirl outfits, she stood back and surveyed her handicraft. Lestrange giggled like a little girl, licking her lips at the prospect of having two oh-so-beautiful dolls to play with until 'Daddy' Potter came back from work to play House with her. She wanted them absolutely perfect for when he came home. Levitating the two humanoid dolls behind her, she skipped unto the pavement, the girls floating eerily behind her.

Looking back to at the two young girls as she made her way down the road, she sighed dramatically. Even though they were pretty, Bellatrix never did like other women in the house for too long. Her dear little sister-iin-law knew that very well; very well indeed. Poor Becky. She laughed again, finding her situation quite hilarious. Who knows? Maybe it was just her bad luck that fatal 'accidents' happen a bit too frequently around her….