Diclaimer: I don't own it.

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Chapter Thirty-Six: The Ball

The morning had arrived, and girls were rushing around preparing. Hope pulled the pillow over her head and groaned at the "ooo" and "ahh" noises that all the girls were making in her dorm.

"Shut the bloody hell up!" She screamed, as one girl twirled around in her dress, irritating Hope.

All the girls just kind of looked at Hope before returning to their annoying activities.

Hope groaned before grudgingly getting out of bed. She went to the bathroom and took a shower before joining up with Hermione. Together, they made their way down to the entrance hall.

Hope walked over to the Slytherin table, pulling a nervous Hermione with her.

"Hope, I'm muggleborn. This isn't a good idea," Hermione protested.

"Hermione, relax. There are muggleborns and halfbloods in Slytherin, they just keep their mouths shut. You'll be with me, Draco and Blaise."

Hermione nodded and followed hesitantly. Hope sat down, playfully pushing Draco down a seat so Hermione could sit in between her and him.

Together, they were all talking until Harry came over and took Hope's hand, pulling her away. With a nod toward Draco saying "watch Hermione", she allowed herself to be pulled outside.

"What's up?" She asked, turning towards him.

Instead of answering, Harry leaned in and kissed her deeply.

"Wow! Did you miss me, Harry?" She asked cheekily.

Harry eyed her kind of weird, making Hope break out into giggles. "You should greet me like that every time." She watched as he leaned in to kiss her again before running off. "You have to catch me first!"

Harry stood dumbfounded for a moment before chasing after her. After awhile, they both tired and laid down by the rocks. Hope was going on about something while Harry stared out at the lake.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked, waving her hand in front of his face.

"Huh? Nothing. Why?" He replied, snapping back his attention.

"You seem kind of off today." When he shook his head she continued. "Well, okay, I'm going to go and get ready for the dance, I will see you in the common room at six?"

He nodded after a moments hesitation and Hope left, more confused than ever at her boyfriend's actions.

Hope was standing next to Hermione in front of the mirror, admiring their work. Hope had worn her hair in a bun with ringlets around her face, while Hermione had chosen to pull hers into a side ponytail. They had applied little makeup because of their dislike for the stuff and were almost ready.

Hope attached her necklace, remembering how Harry was acting earlier. She mentioned it to Hermione.

"How exactly was he acting weird?" She asked, clasping a necklace behind her neck.

"He was more physical than usual, but that could be wrote off to teenage hormones. He was also quiet, like he didn't know what he was supposed to say. He just didn't seem like Harry."

"Hope, with Harry, there are a million different sides. You just have to laugh at him and he'll get back to himself eventually."

Hope looked in the mirror for a final time. "I'm not so sure, but I guess I can try..."

Harry was in the bathroom looking around for anyone else before making a complicated motion with his wand. A face appeared in a cloud of smoke, snakelike with red eyes.

"Master, I fooled the girl."

"Very good, Seamus," Voldemort said back. "You will be rewarded greatly when you return her to me tonight. She does not suspect you are not really Harry Potter?"

Seamus shook his head. "She questioned me, but I put her mind at ease quickly. Our plan will work. The portkey will activate at eight o'clock."

Voldemort nodded his head before he was gone, smoke and all. The fake Harry left to return to pick up Hope in the common room.

Hope gasped as she entered the great hall attached to Harry's arm. Everything was decorated in silver, gold and black, with the tables decorated in house colors. There was a live wizarding band playing, and a snack table set up, as well as a starry sky above them.

Hope felt herself being pulled on to the dance floor and began dancing with her boyfriend. Halfway into the dance, she relaxed and laid her head against his chest, missing the look of satisfaction that came across his face.

Draco was watching Hermione as she sat at the table by herself looking sad. He wrestled with himself over whether to dance with someone that was not a pureblood. Finally, his heart winning over his brain, he stood up and walked to the table.

Hermione looked up and saw the nervous look on Draco's face. "Hey," she said to him.

"Hey, Hermione. You look great tonight." Hermione blushed, and Draco continued. "I was wondering, if maybe you might...but I understand if you don't...I just thought that..."

Hermione was confused. "Draco, spit it out!" She said with a laugh.

"I was wondering if you wanted to dance?" He asked, looking at the ground.

"Oh! I'd love to," she said, standing up quickly. He led her out onto the dance floor and led her in a dance. They continued that way for several songs until the band took a break and everyone broke apart, going for refreshments or back to their friends.

Hope looked at the watch attached to her wrist and was surprised.

"Can you believe it's already almost eight o'clock?" She muttered to her best friend while Draco and Harry received drinks.

"No way!" Hermione exclaimed, glancing at her own watch. Sure enough the letters read 7:55 . "I can't believe it, there is only an hour left of the dance."

Hope laughed. "We'll have more, I'm sure."

"This has been the first since fourth year!" Hermione muttered.

"Well, I'll talk to Severus and see if maybe I can throw one. Who knows?" She said with a laugh as the two boys rejoined them. Deciding to pick on Draco, she turned to him. "So Draco, finally got the courage to ask Hermione here for a dance, huh?"

Draco blushed red before nodding.

"Uh huh. I saw you two love birds out there. Now remember, be good," she said with a wink.

Suddenly, all the laughing stopped as Dumbledore stood up with a worried look on his face.

"I need all students to return to their common rooms except for Harry Potter and Hope Collins, who should come to the front. Quickly!"

Hope stood and began moving through the throngs of people, leaving Harry behind.

"What's going on!?" She asked her dad when she reached the head table.

"Nothing to worry about. The wards are being attacked. They are strong enough to hold, but we just want to be safe." Her father said pulling her into a hug.

"So why did Harry and I have to come up here?" Hope asked.

"Because you will be in Dumbledore's office at the first sign of trouble. Otherwise we thought you could be of some help," Severus said to his daughter.

"I should like to agree," Harry said behind them. "She shall be a lot of help. But not tonight, well, at least not to you."

Dumbledore looked at the boy with shock. "Harry, you know I wouldn't danger her. I will send you both to my office at the first sign of the wards actually breaking."

Harry shook his head. "You misunderstood me, you miserable old coot. Hope will be a great help to my Lord. Not to you." With that Harry wrapped an arm around a shocked Hope and they disappeared.

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A/N: Oooh, we're nearing the end. But never fear there will be a sequel. I'm posting another chapter tonight since I have stuff to do tomorrow. Love ya'll.