Two Different Hunts
Harry and Theo both had the bright light of a lumos attached to their wands. It was Sunday, and they had spend the last six hours searching for any sign of Mafalda. For Harry, it had been a nice change of pace, from his regular routine. But it was not a day of rest by any means.
At first, they had both had lumos spells going, to light the way, but after a while, Theo had drained his core too much, and only Harry had provided light. Harry had provided light the entire day, but had felt no strain on his core. Only during lunch did Theo again light his wand.
"Shepherd's pie really is the perfect meal right now." Theo declared.
"Yes, Dobby knew what he was doing, when we asked him for a good meal for our 'hike.'" Harry answered.
"So Harry, I have been thinking, we should head back. I know how much this means to you. You promised to protect Mafalda, and now she disappeared. But we need to get back by supper time. I still need to do my charms homework. And we have been going down hill for the last five hours. It's noon right now, if we don't head back now, we won't make it. It's going to be harder uphill. I mean we are already tired, but we need to trek back up."
"Yeah, five hours of searching is fine. Can't say, I am too surprised that we did not find her. I mean why would we be so lucky to find her on our first hunt? Still disappointing. Lets head back."
They sat in a long tunnel. Really, it did not look to different form ninety-five percent of the tunnels that they had traversed today. It was dark, but it was dry and it was warm. Some of the tunnels had not been dry, and there were a few spots where there had been traps, or where it was more like a cave than a tunnel, but for the most time, it had been exactly like this. A regular tunnel with forks every mile or so. Or rooms that they had to check.
Countless rooms.
Some rooms had traps inside of them. Other rooms had strange, unique furniture. One had an art gallery. Another was filled with strange tools. There was one where one entire wall looked like it was one big window, overlooking New York. Another room was lit by a strange magical fungi. It was so bright, that the whole room was filled with both magical and regular plants. Harry had to admit, if it had not been a search for Mafalda, he would have loved to look at all the strange phenomena. They were quite fascinating.
There had been several times when Harry had been very exited. There were actual dungeons in the Dungeon! All in all, they had found seven rooms that were clearly made to contain prisoners. In two you could see runes all over the walls. Theo had suggested that they were there to negate any magic from being used in the cells. Indeed, as soon as Harry stepped into those cells, his lumos would extinguish. In one of the cells, they had found a skeleton, but no trace of Mafalda anywhere.
The result of this trek was rather disappointing, but it was what it was.
"You know, Theo, I wonder how long ago, another Slytherin student has been down here?"
"Mmm… hard to tell. Some of these rooms would be great to visit just for the sake of them. Do you know if there is a map or any record of all these rooms."
"I don't know. I tried to make a map as we go, but it is really difficult to get the three dimensional nature of tunnels right." Harry showed Theo his work. It was not pretty, but it seemed to have documented their trek accurately. "I want to avoid double checking all these rooms."
"Makes sense. If we find Mafalda, we can still come back to the coolest rooms."
"We could be tour guides!"
Theo laughed at that.
Quickly after that they headed back up.
HPU
Walking up the long tunnels, was less fun then going down them. But at least they were now only half an hour away from Harry's room.
"Look at this statute, is that Slytherin?" Harry asked.
"Could be," Theo answered, "I remember it from this morning. I checked that alcove already, nothing there."
"It's interesting, this statue of him is much kinder. He doesn't look as angry as in the Chamber of Secrets. In the chamber he had to look 'in command,' I guess."
"So that really is him? Great man, he stood up for his believes, even against his friends."
"Doing that is really hard, you know?"
"I have a former Death Eater as a father. Yes, I know."
"How far from the dueling arena was that statue, do you know?"
"I think it should be pretty soon. Thank Merlin."
Their brisk march of the morning had slowed down to a more measured meander by now. The way up had slowed down additionally, because they realized that not all rooms advertised their presence. Half way up Theo had hit a statue of a troll with a stunner. This caused the statue to step back, and reveal a trap door. The room below had been a potions lab at one point.
When they realized this, they had started to inspect all statues and any other feature that stood out. They had only found two more hidden rooms.
It was rather distressing. How could they know how many rooms they had missed. Even just a simple notice-me-not would hide a room almost completely. At the level that they were at, they could not sense the magic behind the hiding mechanisms.
Harry felt rather hollow about their search.
As the two tired explorers left the 'deeper' dungeons, Harry's gaze fell on Isolde Greengrass. He had not seen her in a while, and he had wanted to ask her about Mafalda's disappearance.
"Hi, Greengrass, could I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Potter."
"Theo and I have been searching for Weasley. She is missing. When have you seen her last?"
"I saw her on the night you were made champion. You know, we were celebrating. The next day she was missing."
"What have you done about it?"
"Well, I talked to Daphne about it, we ended up going to Snape. He thanked us for our concern, and said that the staff is already aware of the problem."
"That's what I did at first. But they didn't do anything."
"Yeah, so we wrote our father about it. A few day's later we got an owl from our uncle, the Lord Greengrass, commanding us to not get ourselves involved with this matter."
"He can just tell you what to do?" Harry was surprised.
"Of course, he is the head of the family. If he thinks that it is for the good of the family to do something, he can tell his family what to do."
"And if you were to disobey him, to help a friend?"
"Well, depending on the head, he could go so fat as to throw you out of the family. Since I am just beginning Hogwarts, this would leave me basically orphaned, and unable to learn magic."
"What about your father? Can't he do anything?"
"My father doesn't care about pureblood supremacy as much, he is more neutral. But he probably does not think a Weasley is worth getting on the bad side with his older brother."
"So you are basically unable to help your friend."
"I have been searching the whole castle with Astoria and some of our friends. It hasn't helped, but I don't know what else to do." Isolde's eyes became teary.
HPU
Not half an hour later they reached the inhabited part of the Dungeon. After a refreshing shower and a nice dinner, Harry was now looking for a different sort of pray. In only a few days, he would need a date for the Triwizard Tournament dance. He still had not asked anyone out, to be his date.
"Hermione, … as Slytherin Champion, I am obligated to go to the Yule Ball … I need to find a partner for the ball … would you be willing to come to the ball with me?" Harry stammered. Damn, that had come out completely wrong. He didn't want to go out with her just because he had to. He wanted to, because of Hermione. But things had gone wrong with them, since … well, since the start of this year.
"No, Harry I can't help you there. I found already a date who would like to go with me, no obligations." Hermione courtly replied, and left.
Harry had banked on going with Hermione. Who else would he go out with. Who did she go out with?
Harry sighed. What would he do now? His friendship with Hermione was in a rocky spot right now. She was clearly upset about his secrets, he wished he could talk to her about the Occlumency lessons, and he still needed to find a date for the Yule Ball. Who else could he ask?
HPU
Harry roamed the castle, since he had no friends apart from Hermione and Theo, he also had no other female friends. Whom could he ask? Someone would have to be willing to go out with one of the four Triwizard Champions.
He wandered down the main hall. As it happened, Katie Bell was walking into the direction of the Gryffindor Tower.
He at least knew her. She was one of the great Gryffindor Chaser trio. The three of them were a real challenge to the Slytherin Quidditch team. If he asked her they would have something to talk about, at least.
And she certainly was pretty. She was athletic, and it top form. Harry had to admit, any fit girl automatically was prettier in his view. They were more defined and often more slender then others.
And unlike the other Gryffindors, she had never harassed him, in these past months. They seemed to respect each other, as competitors often do.
Taking a breath to steady himself he followed her and caught up to her a minute later.
"'Lo, Katie, how are you today."
"Harry, things are going all right. How about yourself?"
"I was just looking for you." Harry 'bent the truth', "I am in need of a date for the Yule Ball, and I thought of you. Would you be willing to go on the Ball as my date?"
"It's sweet of you to think of me, but I have to say no. I can't do that to Angelina. You know I am one of her best friends. I could not possibly go out with her competition. I hope you understand."
Harry swallowed. Another no.
"I see. I hope you have a good time anyway."
HPU
Not a minute later Harry came upon Ginny Weasley. Mafalda's cousin, Harry cursed himself right now, he should be looking for her, instead he was on the hunt for a date for that stupid ball. He had saved her two years ago. If that was not a good introduction, he knew not what else is.
And she did have a splendid body too. Like Katie Bell, she was very fit. Her figure was just forming, but her body already showed the 'Prewett accessories' of her mother.
"Hi, Ginny. Look, I was looking for you. I am wondering if you would go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry, but I already have a date. I am going with my boyfriend, Michael Corner. I hope you find someone."
HPU
On the way back to the Slytherin Dorms, Harry ran into Cho Chang. He did not know her too well, but she was a terrific seeker, almost as good as Ginny. He had noticed her behind before. It did not distract him enough to loose during a Quidditch match, but it was distracting. Hermione had complained that he stared at her. But now Hermione was going out with someone else. Ha, he would show her.
He approached Cho.
"Hi Cho, I was looking for you. Would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"I'm sorry Harry, Cedric Diggory already asked me, and I agreed."
…
"Maybe in the future?" She asked him.
That was a nice idea, but what good would do that to him now?
HPU
Harry returned to the Slytherin Dungeons. When he entered the dueling area, he was surprised to only find Daphne Greengrass there.
This was the opportunity. He knew her fairly well. She had always been too aloof to bully him. Closer association with the Ice Queen could only be good. She was sure to be a center of influence in the House at some point in the future.
"Hello Greengrass, I was thinking of you. You see, I am looking for a date for the Yule Ball. Would you accompany me as my date?"
Daphne bowed slightly: "I am honored to be considered by you. I am afraid, however, I have to say no. Slytherin is not ready for the full Potter-Greengrass alliance. I am sure we will find this in the future, but for now we have to be discreet. I also don't think we could be an item."
What was that supposed to mean? Potter-Greengrass alliance?
Harry sighed. Zero of four girls wanted to go out with him. And all for such strange reasons.
HPU
Harry walked towards the Ravenclaw Tower. He wanted to ask Hermione about some homework in Charms. It was due tomorrow, so he could not wait. He had been distracted all day. First the search for Mafalda, and then this disaster.
When he was waiting in front of the tower door, Luna Lovegood passed by. He knew her, she had to say yes. Hermione had spoken of her several times. She was bullied severely. Maybe this would be nice for her. And she was rather beautiful, in a sort of otherworldly way.
"Hi Luna, I was looking for you. I was wondering if you would go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"Harry that is very nice of you. I will be all right. I don't want to go between you and Hermione. You should ask her."
And she was gone. HE HAD ASKED HERMIONE! Why would no one go out with him!
And what did Luna know about them that he didn't?
HPU
Harry spied Fleur coming down the corridor. She smiled at him. Her smile really was pretty. Not as pretty as Hermione's, but up there for sure. And they did have a good rapport together. Being Champions had given them a connection. Maybe he would try. One more rejection could not hurt that much.
"Hello Fleur, how are you today."
"'arry, zings could be better.
"Oh, what is going on."
"No'zing special. I juste miz my leetle sister. She ees verie sweet. You' would like her."
"I'm sorry Fleur. Maybe I can distract you. Would you like to go for a little walk. You can tell me all your favorite things about France."
"Z'at is sweet of you, 'arry. You leed ze way."
For the next twenty minutes the two Triwizard Champions just walked random paths on the grounds. It was very relaxing to Harry.
When Harry noticed that they were alone in the hall way, he stopped Fleur.
"Fleur, I know you don't want to have a boy drooling over you, especially not one so much younger then you. But, just as friends, would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"'arry, what do you meen just as friends? You don't want more from me?"
"Fleur, you are one of the most beautiful girls in Hogwarts right now, …"
"One of ze? 'arry, 'oo is more beautiful. Have you asked her?"
"Yes, I have, but things are not going well with us right now. So, I just want to be friends with you, and as Triwizard Champion I need a date. I thought you might enjoy having a friend along, instead of some fan boy."
"Ok, 'arry. I am looking forward to it."
"Great, I promise you will have a good time!"
A.N. I love mines and caves, so the Slytherin Dungeon are really cool to me. There will be more of that.The last part was more of a little joke in between. Maybe too cheesy? Hope you enjoyed it anyway.