Once more I own nothing but the plot
Of Balls and Battles part 1...
The next morning Harry woke from his deep sleep at six and upon getting out of bed made his way to the bathroom before he dressed in a pair of black shorts and headed for the training room. Harry jogged around the room on the running track doing five laps after which he took a gulp of water before he tried the Muggle weights, which he worked with for half an hour before his arms became tired. Harry then did twenty press-ups along with twenty sit-ups before he headed back into the bathroom and took a shower, before he changed into his brand new school robes and grabbed his new school bag that could carry all his schoolbooks with a bottomless charm and a feather light charm. Looking at his watch he saw that it was a quarter to eight and he exited the room after asking it to stay in its current form and only allow him access; upon exiting the room Harry turned around to the door and found a picture of Godric Gryffindor on the door.
"Good morning fine sir" said Godric with a smile on his handsome rouge face.
"Good morning" answered Harry who noticed that Godric seemed to have the same messy jet black hair that he himself had but Harry didn't think much of it.
"Would you like to set a password?" Godric asked as he looked Harry over. "Possibly one of my heirs" the portrait thought.
Harry thought for a moment, and then an idea struck him. "Imhotep" said Harry thinking of the film he'd watched at the Dursleys this summer.
"Very good, Good day to you" said Godric with a smile as he waved Harry on his way.
"Thanks and good day to you too" said Harry as he turned around and headed for the main staircase and heading down to the great hall.
"Yes most definitely a relation" Godric said to himself as he watched Harry walk away. "I must speak with headmaster Dumbledore" Godric then left his portrait to visit his other one in the headmasters office that he shared with the other founders not that many people noticed as it was placed right at the top of the past heads pictures.
As Harry entered the great hall he noticed that everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and turn to stare at him; Harry just looked back with a dark look on his face as he made his way to the Gryffindor table and took a seat at the end away from the rest of the Gryffindors and pulled a bowl of mixed fruit towards him and spooned himself some into his dish before he poured himself a cup of coffee and dug into his food ignoring everyone. As he finished his fruit Harry, still feeling a bit peckish had three slices of toast as the morning mail arrived. Harry, who was not expecting any mail, was surprised as a brown tawny owl landed in front of him with a letter attached to its leg. Upon relieving the owl of the letter Harry fed the bird a slice of toast from the table and allowed it to dip its beak into his pumpkin juice that he had just poured for himself. The owl took off as he opened the letter to see familiar slanted writing.
Harry,
Our first meeting will be on Saturday at twelve noon.
Have a good first week back.
Albus Dumbledore
P.S: I enjoy acid pops.
After he had read the small note he glanced at Dumbledore and gave a small nod to show he understood to which the headmaster smiled back as McGonagall stood from her seat and headed to the Gryffindor table to hand out their schedules. Harry glanced down the table and noticed that Ron and Hermione kept glancing his way while Ginny stared at him out of the corner of her eye, which caused a dark look to cross Harry's face.
"I don't have time for silly little girls and their crushes" Harry thought to himself as McGonagall approached him.
"Your timetable Mr. Potter" said McGonagall as she passed Harry his timetable. "I was disappointed when I received your letter rejecting the team captaincy role and your removal of yourself from the team" a few students who had heard the Professor gaped at Harry as they realised that Gryffindor had lost the star seeker.
"Sorry Professor, but I have more important things to do this year" Harry answered as he looked down at his timetable and saw that he had potions with the Slytherin's first then double DADA with the Ravenclaw's.
"What could be so important?" McGonagall asked with raised eyebrows as she looked down at Harry.
"Learning to stay alive while a Dark Lord hunts me" answered Harry as he got up from his seat with a blank expression that said quite clearly that he did not wish to discuss this here.
"Well if there is anything I can do, please let me know" said McGonagall as Harry shouldered his bag.
"Thank you Professor" said Harry with a nod. "See you later Professor" Harry then turned around and headed out of the great hall without another word as he made his way towards the dungeons. Arriving outside the potions class Harry noticed that he was one of the first there. The others being Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis, Slytherin's who kept themselves to themselves. Daphne and Tracy glanced at Harry before going back to talking with one another, unlike other Slytherin's they did not bother anyone they just got on with their schoolwork.
"They should have been in Ravenclaw" Harry thought to himself as the rest of the class arrived. Before anyone could so much as open their mouths the door to the potions classroom opened.
"In" said Snape's silky smooth voice from inside the room, and as nobody wanted Snape's wrath directed at them everyone entered and took their seats with Harry going straight to the back and unpacking his things.
"This term we will be attempting the Wolfsbane Potion and the Veritaserum potion" Snape said as he stood from his seat in front of his class. "I doubt very much that even half of you can get one of these right and I shall have the pleasure of evicting you from my class" at this Snape looked right at Harry.
Harry locked eyes with the potions master daring him to try and break into his mind when a message flashed across his mind. "The headmaster has asked me to test your Occlumency defences when you least expect it" Harry stared at the potions master for a second thinking it over before he nodded his head ever so slightly as it made sense; the more he practised keeping somebody out of his mind the easier it would be to stop Voldemort from invading his thoughts.
"The ingredients are on the board" Snape said as he looked around the room with a dark look on his face. "Begin" everyone looked at the bored and seeing that it was the Wolfsbane potion they were starting first headed to the student cabinet to get their ingredients. All except Harry who stayed sat at his desk watching the students.
"Potter, why are you still in your seat?" Snape barked his question at Harry causing quite a few people to jump at the sudden shout.
"Because everyone has rushed to the cabinet and I will not be able to get my ingredients while everyone is crowded round it, so I'll wait to get mine" answered Harry not really expecting Snape to allow that.
"See that you do" said Snape silkily as he retook his seat. "Finally your proving that you have more than hot air between you ears" Snape smirked as Harry snorted at that; Harry actually found the insult funny. Just as the class was nearly over Snape began to prowl around the room.
"Your potions should be a light blue in colour" Snape said as he peered into Harry's cauldron, to see a perfect light blue potion. "Place a stasis charm on your potions and place them over by the cupboard you will finish them on Wednesday" everyone quickly placed the charm on their potions before moving them to the side of the potions cupboard then retaking their seats as they packed their things away.
"I want two feet on the Wolfsbane potion to be handed in the next class" Snape said causing quite a few people to groan as the bell signalling the end of class sounded. Harry shot out of his seat and out the door before anyone else had a chance to get out of their seat. Harry made his way up to the defence classroom not believing that Snape had not taken so much as a point from him the whole class; though Ron had managed to lose twenty points when Snape overheard him muttering under his breath.
Arriving outside the classroom Harry noticed the door open, and looking into the room noticed Kingsley perched on the edge of his desk waiting for the students.
"Come on in Mr. Potter" said Kingsley as he spotted Harry at the door.
"Good morning Professor" Harry said as he entered the room. "How is your first day teaching going?" Harry took a seat in the back of the class once more.
"Not bad Mr. Potter" answered Kingsley with a small smile. "I just had the third year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors and I started them on the disarming spell" Kingsley was quite proud of the way the students had taken to the spell.
"Did any of them manage a successful disarm?" Harry was always interested to know how the rest of the school was doing in defence; especially now that war was upon them.
"Yes seven managed to master the spell by the end of class" Kingsley answered as the rest of the class poured in through the door and took their seats; strangely everyone seemed to sense that Harry wanted to work on his own, even Ron and Hermione didn't try sitting next to him like they would have usually (They were working individually in potions).
"Good morning class" said Kingsley still sat on the edge of his desk. "Today and the rest of this term we will be working on silent casting" the class began to mutter between themselves as they realised that they would be learning something this year unlike the last.
"You will be working with partners that I choose for you" Kingsley said as he got off his desk and looked around the room. "First I want a volunteer to come up and help me show the advantages of silent casting". He looked around the room but nobody was too eager to volunteer getting cursed at.
"How about you Mr. Potter" said Kingsley who knew that Harry needed all the help he could get in this time of war.
Harry nodded his head as he got out of his seat and made his way to the front of the class. He didn't inform Kingsley that Moody had already been working with him on silent casting.
"Now Mr. Potter I am going to fire the disarming charm at you while you try to block it silently" said Kingsley as he removed his wand. Harry removed the Elder wand; he did not want to advertise to the school that he had the wand so last night he had placed a charm on his wand to make it look exactly like his Phoenix wand. Harry and the professor faced one another and giving a slight bow both raised their wands.
After a few seconds waiting the Professor fired a silent disarming spell at Harry, who in turn raised a silent Protego shield and blocked the on coming charm to the amazement of the class.
"Well done Mr. Potter, five points to Gryffindor" Kingsley by now realised that Moody must have taught Harry well, not that he ever doubted the old Auror. "You may retake your seat" Harry nodded his head and putting his wand back in his holster went and took his seat in the back of the room.
"Now not all spells can be cast silently" began Kingsley. "The unforgivable curses for example cannot be cast without at least a murmur from the caster" Kingsley was about to go on when he noticed Harry with his hand in the air. "Yes Mr. Potter" everyone in the class turned to look at Harry as they had not seen his hand in the air.
"I just thought I would point out that Lord Voldemort can cast the Killing curse silently" Harry said as he rolled his eyes as the students all flinched at Voldemort's name been spoken allowed.
"VOLDEMORT" Harry shouted as he stared around the room and seeing everyone jump and flinch at his shout of Voldemort's name. "Cowards the lot of you, we aren't going to win this war if you flinch at a mere name" Harry said in disgust.
"But isn't there a Prophecy between you and you know who" asked Morag MacDougal in her strong Scottish accent as she looked at Harry with something akin to a challenge in her voice.
"And who told you that" asked Harry in what he hoped was a bored off hand voice as he threw up his Occlumency shields trying not to give anything away in his face or voice.
"The Daily Prophet" answered Morag to which Harry burst out laughing confusing everyone including Kingsley who was allowing this to continue, as he was quite curious as to the reason Harry was so well protected by the headmaster and so hunted by the Dark Lord.
"If you believe that rag then you deserve to be lied to" said Harry after he had calmed down from his fake laughing; he was quite unnerved at how close the Daily Prophet had come to the truth.
"Alright people lets get on with the lesson" said Kingsley as he realised that Harry was not about to let anything slip. "The first pairing shall be Mr. Weasley and Miss. Brocklehurst" Kingsley then paired everyone up and Harry ended up with Lisa Turpin as a partner which caused Lisa to blush as she moved to sit next to Harry, who seeing her blush smiled at her causing the light blush to turn crimson.
"Hello Lisa" said Harry with a smile as Lisa took her seat next to him; Harry had decided that he was not going to play the shy little boy who from a year ago and instead act confident around the opposite sex. It was made easier as he did not plan to have a girlfriend until after the war no matter what a certain little redhead thought.
"Hello Harry" Lisa could not believe she was going to be working with he secret crush, Lisa like many girls at Hogwarts had had a crush on Harry since third year when she first started noticing boys.
"Now that your all sorted with your partners will you all stand please" Kingsley's deep slow voice rang out loud and clear in the room over the quite talking of the students; everyone stood from their seats and watched as Kingsley swept his wand across the room and caused all the tables and chairs to zoom across the room and stack themselves in front of the windows.
"Now I want you all to find a space for you and your partner" said Kingsley and after everyone had gotten themselves into a space he continued. "Right then, one of you shall practise casting the disarming spell at your partner while your partner tries to block it equally silently" after receiving their instructions for class the students decided with their partners who was to fire and who would shield before they began.
After around fifteen minutes Harry was bored out of his mind waiting for a spell that did not look to becoming anytime soon; while Lisa was getting more and more worked up as she kept failing to fire the disarming charm silently. After another five minutes Harry took pity on the poor girl.
"What are you doing?" asked Harry in a patient voice not wanting to upset the girl anymore than she was.
"What do you think that am I doing, I'm trying to cast the disarming charm" answered Lisa a bit snappishly.
"I know that" said Harry calmly as he looked at the frustrated girl. "But are you just saying the incantation over and over in your mind? Harry himself had made the same mistake back in the summer the first time he'd tried silent casting.
"Yes, isn't that how it's done" Lisa asked as she let her wand drop to her side as she looked at Harry.
"No you need intent to cast silently" answered Harry as he moved over to Lisa so he would not have to shout across the space separating them. "Close your eyes, concentrate on my voice" said Harry who did not realise the entire class was doing exactly what he was telling Lisa to do. "Now visualise the disarming charm in your mind" Lisa nodded her understanding and did what Harry told her to do.
"Visualise everything about the charm, the colour of the magic and the results of a successfully cast charm" Harry said still not realising that the entire class was listening to his instructions as Kingsley watched with a smile on his face as he recognised Moody's teaching method as he himself had been taught under Moody's wing when he first joined the Auror's all those years ago.
"Can you see everything about the spell in your mind?" Harry asked and at Lisa's and the rest of the classes (Not that he noticed) nod he went on. "Now without the wand movements I want you to say the incantation in your mind" Harry then noticed the entire class with their eyes closed causing him to blink in surprise. After a few seconds the blue light of the disarming charm shot out of everyone's wands and soon everyone had lost their wand to their partner, causing everyone to beam and Kingsley to clap proudly.
"Well done everyone" Kingsley said with pride on his face. "Take five points each for mastering the silent casting and twenty points to Mr. Potter for in-adversely teaching the entire class how to cast silently" everyone beamed with pride at mastering silent casting.
"Now that you know how to cast silently it will come much easier with other spells and charms that you have already mastered" said Kingsley as the students got their own wands back. "Now for the rest of class I want you to practise shielding charms."
Everyone once again went back to practising and within five minutes shields where popping into existence as the students mastered the shield charm silently. Ten minutes before the bell was to ring Kingsley called a halt to the students practise and restored the classroom furniture and had everyone take a seat.
"For homework I want two feet of parchment on silent casting and its uses in a duel" said Kingsley causing some students namely Ron to groan but the Professor ignored them. "I also want you to get with your Partners for at least an hour every night and practise duelling" as Kingsley said this quite a few people were surprised as they looked at their partners.
"Why?" asked Seamus stupidly causing Harry to roll his eyes and before the professor could answer he did.
"Because we are in a war and we need every bit of practise we can get should the Death Eater's come calling at our homes" Harry answered getting a nod of agreement from Kingsley.
"But the Auror's…" began Anthony Goldstein but Harry interrupted him.
"The Auror's will most likely not know as the Death Eater's will come quietly in the dead of night whilst you're in bed away from your floo networks" said Harry as he looked everyone in the eye trying to get his point across. "And Muggleborns such as Hermione who are not on the floo need all the help they can get" explained Harry causing everyone to nod in understanding.
"Mr. Potter is absolutely right we need all the practise we can get while the Dark Lord is at large" said Kingsley as he looked around the room. "You may go early as there is only five minutes of class left, Mr. Potter stay behind please" everyone quickly left the class as they did not normally get let out early and they were eager to get to lunch.
"You wanted to see me Professor?" Harry asked as he approached Kingsley.
"Yes I wanted to offer you some duelling training" answered Kingsley as he sat on the edge of his desk again.
"And why would you want to do that?" Harry asked though inside he was excited at the thought of training under Kingsley as well as Dumbledore as he needed every bit of help he could get against Voldemort and the Death Eater's.
"Because I, along with most of the Order have worked out that this war is going to come down to you and Voldemort" answered Kingsley surprising Harry with his bluntness. "It's quite obvious if you think about it, the Dark Lord targets you as a baby but ends up in spirit form for thirteen years and he tried to come back twice but you stopped him both times and then he manages to come back using your blood in that ritual" said Kingsley explaining why he and the Order thought that it was going to come down to Harry and Voldemort.
"I neither confirm nor deny it" said Harry with a smile. "But yes I shall take you up on your offer" Kingsley smiled at that as he stood from his seat and led Harry out of the classroom.
"I was hoping you would agree" Said Kingsley as they made their way to the moving staircase. "The more duelling opponents you practise against the better you become" He explained as the started down the stairs.
"That's just what Moody said over the summer" commented Harry before a question popped into his head. "What are you going to be teaching me?" Kingsley was silent for a moment before he answered Harry.
"Well since the headmaster will be teaching you advanced duelling, I was thinking of giving you Auror training" Kingsley answered causing Harry's smile to widen as they reached the entrance hall and made their way to the great hall for lunch.
"Thank you sir, your help will be much appreciated" said Harry as they entered the great hall and separated with Harry going to the Gryffindor table and Kingsley heading to the teachers table.
"Why have you been blanking us" asked Hermione as she and Ron dropped into seats across from Harry as they'd been waiting for him to arrive so they could get some answers.
"Because I have more important things to worry about" answered Harry in a neutral voice and a blank face even if he was swearing up a storm in his mind.
"What's more important than your friends" asked Hermione while Ron stayed silent.
"Living to see my next birthday" answered Harry simply causing both Ron and Hermione to gape at him.
"What do you mean by that?" Ron asked as he pulled a tray of chips towards him and scooped some onto a plate.
"Lord Voldemort" Harry stated as he pulled a ready made salad to him and began eating. "I need to concentrate on defeating him" said Harry as he swallowed his food.
"But we can help" said Ron speaking for the first time as he reached for some gravy and bread to go with his chips.
Harry shook his head before he answered. "No what you two can do is stay out of the war as best you can" Harry's voice left no room for argument but of course Hermione did.
"But we have fought the Death Eater's before" at this Harry scoffed causing both Ron and Hermione to scowl. "What?" asked Ron and Hermione in unison.
"In the department of Mysteries we only survived because Voldemort ordered the Death Eater's not to kill us before they had the Prophecy as he didn't want me to smash it out of anger" Harry explained to them.
"But we can still help" said Hermione a bit weakly knowing that Harry would not budge when he had his mind set on something.
"If you want to help so much go see Dumbledore" Harry snapped as he was quickly tiring of this. "Don't they understand that they will be safer away from me" Harry thought to himself as he poured some Pumpkin juice.
"Fine we will" answered Hermione snappishly as she stood to leave; Harry who wanted to push them away as much as he could spoke up to Ron who had stood as well.
"Tell Ginny that I'm not interested in her or her silly little fantasies" Harry said as he finished his salad and pulled a slice of treacle tart to him.
"And what is wrong with my sister?" Ron snapped with a scowl on his face.
"She is nothing but a little girl who is still in love with the stories of the boy who lived her mother no doubt told her as she was growing up" answered Harry with a blank face once again. Ron's face began to colour with anger at Harry's words about his sister.
"Don't you talk about my sister like that" Ron shouted causing everyone to stop and look their way.
"Tell her to give up her stupid little fantasies and I will" Harry said back in a hard loud voice as he just spotted Ginny sitting with her friends half way down the Gryffindor table.
"I will as I don't want my sister trying to get with a jerk like you" Ron bellowed as he leaned over the table trying to intimidate Harry which was not the brightest idea.
"Don't shout in my face Weasley" Harry shouted as he stood from his seat glaring at Ron; ever since Harry could remember his uncle shouted at him and he was not going to put up with it in the Wizarding world as well.
"And what are you going to do if I don't Potter?" Ron asked still shouting at Harry who just shook his head and picking up his bag began to leave the hall. "That's right your not going to do anything are you, you coward" Ron was so angry at Harry for ignoring him and staying what he did about his sister that it did not register that Harry Potter was anything but a coward.
Harry stopped in his tracks as Ron called him a coward. "I'll show him coward" he thought to himself before whipping out his wand and spinning round to face Ron his wand pointed at the redhead but before he could do anything Dumbledore stood from his seat before it could get out of hand.
"Enough" the headmaster's voice rang out through the hall causing Harry and everyone else to stop. "Harry put your wand away before you do something to land yourself in detention" Harry looked at the headmaster who nodded his head before he put his wand away and stormed out of the hall forgetting his bag but seconds later said bag went zooming out of the great hall as Harry summoned it to him.
Over the next weeks Harry buried himself in books and training; he went from eighth place in nearly every class to the top of every class he attended including potions though to be fair he had practiced this years potions over the summer. Harry mastered everything that was put in front of him, from Ignis Verbero which was designed to combat Inferi or Inferius as the headmaster was sure Voldemort would use the animated dead corpses again as he had used them in the last war; Harry also studied Duels of the Death Eater's and Voldemort in the headmasters pensive. Kingsley taught him how shield charms that could block the unforgivable curses, such as a brick wall; the Auror also duelled with Harry giving him tips as he went. Harry's Phoenix egg had not yet hatched but after talking with Hagrid about it found out that the Phoenix would most likely hatch around Christmas time.
Harry also met with Lisa Turpin twice a week as he did not have time for more than that; on one night they would practice new spells for an hour and on another they would duel for an hour with Harry giving Lisa any tips that Kingsley or the headmaster had given him. Lisa was the only student other than Draco who he met with once a week for an hour who Harry spoke with and that was only in DADA or at their meetings; he ignored everyone but his teachers, as he wanted to get better than he was if he wanted to stand a chance against Voldemort.
Of course Voldemort and the Death Eater's had not been quite as they had been attacking Muggle's, they had also killed ex-minister Fudge and Amos Diggory along with low level Ministry workers spreading fear across the country but Snape had reported to the Order that Voldemort was planning a big attack soon but he did not know when though he had managed to find out that Azkaban was apart of that plan; after learning of this Dumbledore had contacted Minister Scrimgeour who had beefed up the wards surrounding the prison at Dumbledore's urging as he did not want to make the same mistake as Fudge and ignore the headmaster.
Dumbledore had also announced a Christmas ball to take place three days before Christmas day so anyone wanting to attend the ball and go home for the holiday could do so. The announcement of the ball had caused quite a stir within Hogwarts as everyone not named Harry Potter was looking forward to the ball and was planning to attend. Harry who was not intending to attend even though it had been his suggestion was planning to start reading up on the Dark Arts as he believed that to properly defend against them one had to have an understanding of them. Of course girls had asked him to attend with them including Ginny even after Ron had told her what Harry had said, but he politely declined every time stating he was too busy over the Christmas holiday; Ginny was persistent though and had asked him three times and she was really starting to grate on Harry's nerves. Harry was just leaving the great hall after his evening meal when Ginny once again asked him to the ball.
"Hello Harry" said Ginny from behind Harry causing him to stop and close his eyes with a sigh as he knew what was coming though he tried his best to stay polite.
"What do you want?" he asked not even turning to face the girl though he doubted very much that that would work, it didn't.
"Will you go to the ball with me?" Ginny asked for the fourth time.
"No, I'm not going" Harry had answered this three times already but the girl would not give up.
"Why aren't you going?" she asked even though Harry had answered this question also.
"Because I'm busy" Harry answered shortly, he was so close to snapping at the redhead that he was already thinking which curse he could use to get his point across.
"Why can't you take time off of your studying to take me to the ball?" Ginny asked stubbornly causing Harry's temper to snap.
"Because I don't want to go to the ball" Harry hissed in a hard voice as he spun around to face the redhead his eyes flashing in anger. "And even if I did I would not go with a stalker like you, why can't you get that into your thick skull and leave me alone" Harry was breathing quite heavily as he tried not to curse the idiot girl in his anger.
"Come on Harry" said a soft feminine voice from behind him as he felt a gentle tugging on the back of his robes. "Let's go for a walk and calm down" said the same voice gently as who ever she was began to lead Harry out of the great hall and out the front doors.
"Lisa?" asked Harry as he glanced at the person leading him slowly towards the black lake.
"Yeah, I could see that you were about ten seconds from cursing Weasley back to middle ages and instead of allowing you to get in trouble I brought you out here" Lisa Turpin explained to Harry; she no longer blushed when around Harry as over the weeks they had gotten to know one another well enough to be classed as friends though Harry would admit to no one that he had friends, allies yes friends no.
"Thanks for that" Harry said before going quite as they strolled towards the lake and he regained control on his anger.
"So what was all that about anyway?" Lisa asked as she sat down on the grass and looked out over the lake. "Or don't I need to ask?" Harry had told Lisa about Ginny persistently asking him to the ball, she thought it was funny and cute but after awhile even she was fed up with the stalker like girl.
"No you don't need to ask" answered Harry as he too took a seat on the grass and looked out over the lake beside Lisa; they sat in silence for five minutes before Lisa spoke up.
"Maybe you should go to the ball" said Lisa causing Harry to look at her in shock.
"What, Why" Harry asked not believing that another was telling him to go to the ball though he gave her credit for not asking him to go with her.
"Well you do need to take a break and relax a bit" Lisa said as she turned her head to look at Harry.
"I can't I've got…" but that was as far as he got before Lisa interrupted him.
"I know you have to train for the war" began Lisa causing Harry's jaw to drop. "Don't look at me like that, it's obvious that your training for the war every time I see you, you have your nose buried in a defence book" Lisa explained to Harry as his mouth snapped shut but before he could open his mouth to object she went on.
"You need to have a night of relaxing otherwise your going to burn out and then you will be no good to fight anyone" said Lisa giving Harry a bit of a pause as he thought over what she had said.
"But Voldemort…" Harry was interrupted once again.
"Can wait" Lisa said with conviction as she looked into Harry's eyes. "Missing one night of training is not going to hurt you and you can carry on training over Christmas break if you want, just rest for one night it will do you a world of good"
Harry thought over everything Lisa had said and he knew it made sense but there was one little problem.
"Who am I going to go with" Harry asked as he relented to go to the ball. "All the girls at school either want to go as my girlfriend or they want to be able to say that they went with the boy who lived" Harry had a look of distaste on his face as he did not want either of them girls.
"Why not go with a friend" answered Lisa with a smile. "Go as just friends" Harry snorted at that.
"I told you before I don't have friend's just allies" Harry answered as he looked back out over the lake.
"I thought I was your friend?" Lisa asked with a cute pout on her full soft pink lips. "
Fine, fine you're my friend happy?" Harry asked with a smile on his face as he watched the giant squib float past on its back.
"Ecstatic" answered Lisa with a terrible impression of a Malfoy drawl which caused Harry to laugh. "I hope you are not laughing at me Mr. Potter" Lisa said in a playfully snobbish voice as she turned her nose up at Harry causing him to howl with laughter after he had looked at her up turned face, after a few seconds Lisa joined him and for a couple of minutes all they did was laugh and for once Harry was not faking his laughter.
"So who are you going to the ball with?" Harry asked as he and Lisa finally calmed down and stopped laughing.
"You" answered Lisa as she stared into Harry's eyes once more.
"Me" Harry yelped in surprise.
"Yes you" whispered Lisa as she continued to stare into Harry's eyes. "Merlin I love those eyes" Lisa thought to herself. "His eyes light up when he smiles and go almost black when he's angered" Lisa like every girl at Hogwarts including the Slytherin girls thought that Harry's eyes were one if not his best feature.
"Just friends" asked Harry in a whisper as he stared into Lisa's Sky blue eyes.
"Unless you want to go as something more than friends" Lisa answered in a whisper with a hint of hope in her voice.
Harry continued to stare into Lisa's eyes for a long moment before he looked away and broke the spell between them.
"As tempting as that is I can't" said Harry as he once more cursed Voldemort and that damn Prophecy as Lisa was a nice enough girl that if not for the war he would have loved to get to know her better.
"I understand Harry" said Lisa softly with only a hint of sadness in her voice. "Going as friends will be more than perfect" a little lie on her part but she was happy to be going with Harry in the first place. "Well see you around Harry I'm sure Mandy is looking for me" Lisa said as she stood from the grass.
"I'll walk you back" said Harry as he got to his feet as well. "No point in taking chances" said Harry as they began walk back across the grounds.
"Thank you" said Lisa. "Of course he's just thinking of my safety and not wanting to be with me longer, though he's sweet for thinking of my safety" Lisa thought to herself as they walked into the entrance hall.
"Stupid Voldemort, stupid Prophecy" Harry said to himself with a mental scowl. "Why couldn't someone else be destined to fight Voldemort and leave me the fuck alone" Harry escorted Lisa up to the fifth floor.
"Goodnight Lisa" said Harry as he turned to head up to the seventh floor and his own quarters namely the room of requirement.
"Goodnight Harry" said Lisa as she watched Harry disappear up the stairs with a sigh before she turned and went into the Ravenclaw Common room after answering the door knocker's question.
December 21st, Christmas ball
Harry was in his bedroom standing in front of a full length mirror that the room had provided for him as he dressed for the Christmas ball; Harry had told nobody that he was going to attend even if he and Lisa were going as friends.
"Why am I so nervous?" Harry asked himself out loud. "We're just friends" he may have been reluctant to go but he had dressed up in a brand new suit that Dumbledore had taken him into Muggle London to get after Harry had all but begged him to allow him to go.
Harry was dressed in a black pinstriped light medium weight Boltini suit, with a dark red tie and a pair of shiny black dress shoes; the suit spoke of sophistication and wealth, though this time he was dressing up for Lisa and not to make a statement to anybody. Harry had also had his hair cut to a short back and sides and medium length on top of his head even though it still stuck up on end no matter what he did with it. Harry had also persuaded McGonagall to give him a few dance lessons as he did not wish to have Lisa sit out the dancing or step on her toes.
Throwing on his light outer robe Harry left his bedroom and headed for the exit as he was to meet with Lisa in ten minutes.
"Very handsome Harry" said the picture of Godric Gryffindor who had talked with the headmaster about Harry but that's for another chapter.
"Thank you Godric" said Harry with a smile. "I do try every now and then" Harry and Godric shared a laugh as Harry made his way to the entrance where he and Lisa had agreed to meet; on his way down the stairs Harry placed a notice-me-not charm on himself so people would not bother him as he waited for Lisa, namely redheaded people whose name begins with a G.
As Harry reached the top of the marble staircase that led to the entrance hall he saw students walking around the entrance hall as they looked for there dates much like before the Yule ball, sill there were male students just waiting around no doubt waiting for their dates just as Harry was about to do before he spotted Malfoy walking up from the Dungeons with Pansy Parkinson hanging on his arm with a smug look on her face; Harry quickly made his way to beside the great hall doors and as they passed Harry could not help but slap Draco on the back of his head.
"Ouch, who was that" Malfoy demanded as he spun around, though nobody was close enough to hit him he glared at everyone around him before heading into the great hall.
Harry was giggling like a little schoolgirl as he watched Malfoy enter the hall rubbing the back of his head; Harry's silent giggling died in his throat as he glanced up the marble stairs and caught sight of Lisa at the top.
Lisa was dressed in a Petrol Blue, mermaid shape dress; the dress hugged her body showing her womanly curves right down to her knees were it then kicks out into a fish-tail shape. The sweetheart neckline showed just a hint of cleavage as the neckline had glittering diamond's hand stitched on to the dress giving it a sparkling finish, her shoulders were bare to about mid back. Lisa had also put her hair up and to the back of her head making her look absolutely stunning as she glided down the stairs with her eyes scanning the students. Harry stood rooted to the spot as her watched Lisa slowly descend the marble stair.
"Fucking Voldemort and his stupid fucking war" Harry blamed the Dark Lord for being the reason why he could not walk up to Lisa and snog her brains out; but he could not put her in the danger of being the boy who lived's girlfriend as she would be Death Eater enemy number four right behind Harry, the headmaster and Minister in that order.
Harry removed his notice-me-not charm as he noticed almost everyone had made his or her way into the great hall and Lisa was looking a little down as she waited on him, no doubt thinking that he had stood her up.
"Lisa" Harry called as he made his way over to his date for the evening; Lisa who upon looking up at her name being called, her face lit up in a full smile as she caught sight of Harry making his way over to her. "You look stunning" Harry said as he took the back of her hand and lightly brushed his lips over her knuckles as he'd seen Victor Krum do as he met Hermione before the Yule ball.
"Thank you Harry" Lisa said as she blushed a bit and looked him over. "You look very dashing yourself" Harry and Lisa smiled at each other for a moment; before Harry glanced around and noticed that they were the last one's left in the entrance hall.
"Shall we go to the ball milady" Harry asked as he offered his arm.
"Yes we shall good sir" Lisa said with a smile as she hooked her arm through Harry's and they made their way across the hall and into the great hall.
As they entered through the doors everyone stopped to look at the latecomers, much whispering could soon be heard throughout the great hall as everyone saw that it was Harry Potter and Lisa Turpin. Harry ignored everyone as he guided Lisa to a spare table just in front of the teachers table.
"Sorry we are a bit late" Harry said politely as he looked at the headmaster who had just stood to open the ball as Harry and Lisa entered the hall.
"It's not a problem my boy" Dumbledore said as he smiled down at Harry and Lisa; Harry held out a chair for Lisa receiving another smile from the girl as he took his own seat. "Let the ball begin" Dumbledore said as he beamed at the students; the food was set up as a buffet as was the drinks, music started to play softly as people began to get up and walk over to the buffet table as they talked with their dates and friends.
"Shall I get the food and you get the drinks?" Harry suggested as he stood from his seat, Lisa doing the same.
"Yes, what do you want to drink?" Lisa asked as the slowly made their way across the dance floor as the food and drinks were set up where the Slytherin table normally sat.
"Surprise me" Harry said with a smile. "What would you like to eat?" Harry asked as they reached the table for the food and Harry got in the cue.
"Surprise me" Lisa said with a small laugh in her voice as she moved over to the drinks table. Harry could not help but admire her shapely behind as she walked away.
As Harry and Lisa sat down to eat their food they talked of their home life's, well Lisa did as Harry did not wish to share any of his Dursley life with his date as he felt that those stories would put a damper on the evening. Harry learned that Lisa's mother had died when she was aged just five, there had been nothing wrong with her mother it was just her time to go and she had slipped away in her sleep; Her father, Bradley was a top Ministry Auror, he was third in command at the Auror corps under second in command Hector Dagworth and head Auror Travis Biller who had been promoted after Scrimgeour took over the top spot at the Ministry, Kingsley would have been third in command had he stayed with the Auror's.
After they had finished their food, Harry asked Lisa to dance as the music for a slow waltz came on over the wizard wireless network, who was broadcasting ball and dance music on one of their channels for the student's Christmas ball at the request of the headmaster.
Lisa smiled broadly as she accepted Harry's offer to dance and took his proffered hand and allowed herself to be led out onto the dance floor. Too her surprise, Harry was a fairly decent mover as he, not perfectly but gracefully enough took the lead and waltzed Lisa around the dance floor without stepping on her toes.
"I didn't know you could dance" Lisa commented as she looked up into Harry's face.
"I couldn't" said Harry with a smile. "Until I begged McGonagall to teach me" Lisa giggled as an image of Harry begging the stern Professor to teach him dance floated into her mind. Harry and Lisa danced to three other songs as Harry told her all about his father, the Marauder's and what little he knew of his mother. Lisa did not miss the dark look in Harry's eyes as he talked about how Pettigrew had betrayed him and his parents to Voldemort and framed Sirius for the crime and murder of the thirteen Muggle's.
As Harry went to get them both drinks and Lisa went over to talk with Mandy and her other friends Harry was confronted by Ginny.
"I thought you said that you were not coming to the ball" said the accusing voice of Ginny Weasley from behind Harry.
"I changed my mind" said Harry simply in a bored tone of voice as he poured himself a glass of fruit punch.
"Why didn't you come with me when I asked?" Ginny asked with a scowl as Harry kept his back to her.
"Because I did not wish to come with you" answered Harry as he poured a bottle of Butterbear into a glass for Lisa, still not turning to face Ginny.
"How come you came with Turpin?" Ginny asked as she spat Lisa's name like it was a bad taste in her mouth.
"Because unlike you, Lisa is happy to come as just friends" Harry asked as he picked up the drinks and finally turned to look at Ginny. "But you would have expected more than that" Harry's scowl quite clearly said what he thought of that.
"No I wouldn't, I would have been fine with coming as friends" said Ginny unconvincingly as she looked up at Harry.
"Lair" Harry spat as he was getting tired of the redhead questioning him as if he had to answer to her. "Now are you going to leave me alone?" Harry asked though he doubted very much that she would.
"Not until you tell me what she's got that I don't" Ginny said with a scowl on her face as though she thought that Lisa could not possibly have anything she didn't.
"Fine" Harry hissed at the Redhead. "She's intelligent, funny, caring, she has the voice of an angel, she is sexy and does not stalk me or annoy me like you do" Harry said all this very quickly not even realising that that was how he felt about Lisa. "Now goodbye" Harry then left the redhead behind.
Ginny was unconvinced that Harry didn't love her as she "loved" him.
Harry made his way to Lisa and her friends, and being unable to calm down enough he handed her drink.
"I'm just going to speak with the headmaster" Harry said thinking that maybe Dumbledore could do something about Ginny.
"Ok Harry, is everything alright?" Lisa asked with a bit of concern as she'd seen Ginny corner Harry.
"Yeah, just going to get some advice on stalkers" answered Harry with a smile that didn't meet his eyes.
"Ok" said Lisa with a small smile as Harry made his way over to the headmaster who was stood to one side watching the students dance with a smile on his face.
"May I speak with you headmaster?" Harry asked as he reached Dumbledore's side.
"Of course my boy, what can I do for you this fine evening?" Dumbledore asked as he continued to watch the dancers.
"Well it's about a stalker who won't leave me alone" answered Harry as he too turned to watch the dancers as he took a swig of his drink.
"What do you mean a stalker?" Dumbledore asked as he whipped his head round to look at Harry, no doubt thinking of Death Eater's. Harry then explained the problem with Ginny; how she had asked him to the ball four times even though he repeatedly said no, how she always seemed to be their as he turned around no matter if he was inside the castle or outside taking a walk. And how she had just cornered him demanding to know why he was here with Lisa and not her.
The headmaster thought over everything that Harry had told him before he replied.
"Have you ever thought that maybe Miss. Weasley is in love with you?" Dumbledore asked as he watched Ginny who was now watching Lisa and Mandy with a venomous look on her face.
"The only thing she is in love with is my fame and money" answered Harry with a scowl not knowing just how true that statement was.
"Very well I shall speak with Miss. Weasley" said Dumbledore as the doors to the great hall burst open and two Auror's dressed in blue battle robes came sprinting into the hall and straight to Dumbledore.
"Auror Turpin, Auror Anderson what can I do for you both?" Dumbledore asked quickly knowing that whatever it was it must be bad with the third Auror in command sprinting into his school.
"You-know-who and the Death Eater's are attacking Azkaban" Answered Anderson before Turpin could even open his mouth.
"The Death Eater's and werewolves are attacking Hogsmeade" said Turpin as he caught his breath.
"I'll get McGonagall and Shacklebolt to contact the Order" said Harry quickly as he went in search of the professor's.
"Have them get the Order to the school gates" Dumbledore called to Harry's retreating back before he turned to Auror Anderson.
"How long will the wards hold out?" asked Dumbledore thinking fast.
"Ten or fifteen minutes tops if we're lucky" answered Anderson giving the same answer the warders had given the Auror's not all that long ago.
"Very well, I shall split the Order and have half of them come with me to Azkaban and half go into Hogsmeade" said Dumbledore as Harry rejoined them.
"I'm going" said Harry who had already taken of his blazer and was rolling up his shirtsleeves. "If I'm to win I need battle experience" Harry explained to the headmaster.
"You are not ready to face Tom" said Dumbledore thinking that Harry was wanting to go to Azkaban.
"I know that's why I'm going to Hogsmeade" said Harry and before the two Auror's could protest Harry spoke up. "You yourself have given me duelling lessons" with that one statement Harry silenced the building protests of the two Auror's.
"Very well but be on your guard at all times" said Dumbledore relenting as he knew they could not afford to stand around arguing.
"Severus the school is yours, Filius come with us" Dumbledore called to the two teachers as he led Harry and the Auror's through a silent crowd of students.
"Of course headmaster" Snape said in answer to Dumbledore's command; knowing that he had a role to play and thus could not join either fight.
"Be careful dad, Harry" Lisa said as they passed by her table; Lisa knew that her father could not sit out the fight with the Death Eater's but she was worried nonetheless, she also knew that Harry would need the experience in battle even if she didn't know exactly why he needed it. Lisa could only hope that they would both be alive by the end of the night.
As Harry, the headmaster and Flitwick, along with the Auror's reached the entrance hall they spotted Kingsley and McGonagall coming down the Marble staircase.
"We got lucky" Kingsley spoke as he and McGonagall reached the bottom of the stairs and headed over to the group. "More than half the Order was at headquarters having a Christmas drink" Kingsley stopped in front of the headmaster and pulled out his wand before he continued. "They are now waiting outside the school gates as they had all activated their emergency Portkey's after I had told them to wait outside the school for your instruction" Kingsley finished explaining showing why he was a top Auror.
"I contacted the rest and they also activated their Portkey's and are waiting on your instruction" said McGonagall as she too removed her wand.
"Then lets not keep them waiting much longer" said Dumbledore as he turned and began leading the group out the castle doors and down the stairs that led onto the lawns.
"Accio brooms" Harry shouted as they reached the lawn in front of the castle. "We don't have time to walk across the grounds and not all of us are young enough to run a half mile then do battle" Harry explained as every school broom along with his own came shooting across the grounds from the Quidditch pitch. All the school brooms were brand new Nimbus 2001's thanks to the donations from the Potter's and Sirius Black.
"Good thinking Harry" said Dumbledore as he and the rest picked up a broom each, Harry of course getting his own Firebolt. Once everyone had mounted a broom they rocketed towards the school gates leaving the other brooms on the school lawn.
Harry's Firebolt went screaming past the other's as he pushed the broom as hard as he could; he was therefore the first the come to a halt in front of the Order as the rest of the group came to a halt in front of the Order half a minute later.
"I want half the Order to go help in Hogsmeade while the other half comes with me to Azkaban" said Dumbledore in a commanding voice cutting straight to the chase. The Order quickly spilt up as half went to stand beside Auror Turpin, while the other half went to Dumbledore who had conjured a long rope and quickly turned it into a Portkey; as head of the Wizengamot Dumbledore was able to create Portkey's to the prison.
"Hang on you said there were Werewolves attacking Hogsmeade" said Harry as turned to Auror Turpin, who nodded his head. "But it's not full moon" Harry said as he pointed to Remus who was stood with his group very much human.
"Yes it seems Greyback or You-Know-Who has found a way for them to transform without the full moon" answered Auror Turpin grimly.
"Well let us be on our ways" said Dumbledore before he had the Order and the Auror Anderson grab the Portkey. "Good luck everyone" Dumbledore said as he looked at everyone there before "Activate" and he and half the Order vanished from Hogsmeade.
"Lets go people" said Auror Turpin before he Apparated from the school gates followed by everyone else except Harry who quickly Had Dobby bring him the Dragon hide vest Bill had given him for his birthday. Harry quickly put the vest on underneath his shirt and using his wand to button the shirt back up he too Apparated to Hogsmeade and his first ever battle that he was going into willingly.
TBC… in next chapter. Please review.