The Start of Term Ball

"He what!" Harry shouted, "How? When?"

"They don't know how, but they think Bellatrix helped him," Ginny answered quietly, "He escaped last night, dad just sent us an owl. Told us not to go sneaking around, you know, the usual. The Ministry thinks that Voldemort is plotting his next big battle and they think it will be here at Hogwarts."

"Then we will have to prepare as well," Harry spoke with a confidant tone, "Hermione, can you post bulletins around the school? The first DA meeting will be Sunday at seven P.M."

"Sure thing, Harry," Hermione replied, "I'll put them up first thing in the morning."

With that Harry kissed Ginny on the cheek and said goodnight. Harry lay in bed a mixture of happiness and anxiety running through him. He was glad he didn't have to deal with Snape and Occlumency any more but now he had to worry about when the next attack would be. Harry pictured himself changing into the fox one last time before he slept and had to change back after he got stuck in the same place as before. He felt that the rest of the transformation would be much more difficult.

Saturday morning was the trip to Hogsmeade for new robes for the dance. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione left for Hogsmeade right after breakfast. Ginny and Hermione were giggling wildly as they walked and talked in front of Harry and Ron. Ron gave Harry a look that told Harry that he thought the girls had finally lost it. Harry nodded his agreement, then he got a sly smile on his face. Harry scrunched his nose up in concentration and Ron watched as two pointy, red fox ears appeared on Harry's head.

"Me and Harry haven't had a second real kiss yet," Harry heard Ginny explain to Hermione, "what about you and Ron?"

Hermione blushed at the question, "We haven't kissed yet, I hope he kisses me tonight though."

Harry smiled he now knew what the girls were giggling about and he turned a shade of red as he changed his ears back to normal. Harry looked at Ron and shook his head.

"Harry, you are bad," Ron said with a conspiratory tone, "If they find out you did that they will have your hide."

"I know," Harry said faking his apologetic voice, "but I think you had better kiss Hermione tonight."

Ron went pale when he heard this causing Harry to laugh. Ron spent the rest of the walk to Hogsmeade trying to regain color in his face. When they arrived in Hogsmeade Harry and Ron got the girls to agree to go to the Quidditch supply store with them first. While they were there Hermione bought a Mini-Quidditch team in gold and Ginny got one in blue. Harry bought a new broom maintenance kit and a whistle to use at practices. When they were done the girls dragged them to the robe store where the boys quickly picked out their robes. Harry bought a black robe that had a thin line of gold trimmed around the hem. Ron picked out a solid blue robe when Hermione told him that he could not have such a plain robe. She picked him out golden robe that was trimmed in white, she then told him that he looked much better in this. Harry and Ron had turned to leave the store when the girls caught them.

"Just where do you to think you are going?" Ginny asked smiling.

"We were going to go get you something for tonight," Harry answered slyly to cover the fact that they just didn't want to sit around while they tried on clothes.

"Well be back soon," Hermione told them, "you have to tell us how we look in our robes."

They nodded as they left the shop. They spent the next hour walking around Hogsmeade looking for something to get their girlfriends. Finally after an hour of looking they still hadn't found a thing.

"It was a great excuse to get us out of their mate," Ron sounded defeated, "but I think we are out of luck."

"Not if I can help it, come on." Harry said with a sly smile, "Follow me."

Harry led Ron into a jewelry shop and found what he was looking for, two identical silver heart shaped lockets. Harry looked around and found the shop clerk.

"Excuse me, sir," Harry asked politely, "do you have a wizards camera here?"

"Yes, what can I do for you?" The clerk asked curiously.

"Well I was wondering if you could take a picture of each of us that we could put in these lockets," Harry replied holding the two lockets up.

"Of course, of course," the clerk smiled as he took their pictures and then carefully placed them in the lockets, "that will be ten galleons a piece." Harry and Ron paid the man and ran back to the robe shop where Hermione and Ginny were standing bags in hand looking furious.

"You are late," Hermione said with a stern voice, "we have already bought our robes."

"It is time to go," Ginny added, "we just have to hope you like them." Ginny and Hermione both turned and led the way back to Hogwarts with Ron and Harry following behind them.

Harry and Ron put their robes on and Harry slipped his Order of Merlin sash over his head and then set to work on finishing their gifts. Harry cast a simple engraving spell on the locket he bought for Ginny and had her name engraved on the outside. Then with a spell that he learned from the twins he enchanted the picture of himself waving to say "Hello, Ginny, you look lovely today." For the final step he cast an everlasting spell on the picture so that the speaking spell would never wear off. Ron then repeated the steps for Hermione's locket, then they both wrapped them in boxes the clerk had given them.

Harry and Ron went downstairs to wait for their dates in front of the Great Hall. When they saw the girls their jaws dropped, they were gorgeous. Ginny walked down the last few steps of the Great Staircase wearing her hair up in a tight bun and wore an emerald green robe that fluttered around her legs as she walked. Hermione wore her hair down in loose curls and wore a scarlet red robe. Harry and Ron told their dates how great they each looked and the girls informed them that they were still mad. Harry knew that now was the time to give them the lockets so he pulled his box out of his pocket and handed it to Ginny. Ginny opened the box and looked at the locket, her face lit up in a huge smile as she saw her name. She opened it and saw Harry waving back at her saying his message and then smile. Ginny threw her arms around Harry in a huge hug and whispered thanks into his ear. Harry saw Hermione have the same reaction to Ron and he knew that the gifts were perfect.

They spent the first hour and a half of the ball eating dinner and talking. Harry eventually asked Ginny to dance and the rest of their evening was spent holding each other on the dance floor. As the last song started coming to an end Harry leaned forward and gently kissed Ginny. Before the kiss ended they heard a loud explosion come from the entrance. Harry looked up and saw that the door had blown off of its hinges, then he saw the last person he expected walking through the door.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy!" Harry shouted.

"POTTER! It is time to meet your fate!" Lucius Malfoy yelled back as he pulled out his wand, "Stupefy, Silencio." Malfoy cast the spells in quick succession, the first hitting Ginny and the second hitting Harry. Harry now unable to speak put his wand back into his robes and began concentrating on his enemy. A stiff wind began blowing through the Great Hall, Malfoy had a confused look on his face. Malfoy attempted to cast a spell at Harry but just then a table flew across the room and hit Malfoy's wand hand causing the wand to fly out of his hand. Harry heard someone unhex him and he was able to speak.

"You should not have come here, Malfoy! You alone can not defeat me," Harry yelled over the now howling wind, "there are only two ways you are leaving here tonight. As a prisoner or dead! It is your choice."

Draco Malfoy had heard what Harry said and pulled his wand out and cast a jinx at Harry. Without looking Harry put his left hand up and caused the jinx to bounce harmlessly into the ceiling. Then as an after thought Harry made a grabbing motion with his hand and Draco lifted off the ground. Harry moved his arm and Draco floated to the spot next to his father. Harry heard Ginny begin to move and looked down at her. In that split second Lucius had grabbed Draco's wand and began to speak.

"Avada," Lucius was cut off before he could finish. Harry had sent a blast of hot air directly at the elder Malfoy that caused him to hurtle backwards. Lucius hit the wall above the entrance with a sickening thud and the sound of bones breaking. When he fell to the floor the wind immediately quit blowing and Draco ran to his fathers side. Draco leaned over his father then looked back up with fire in his eyes.

"You killed my father Potter!"