Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way shape or form. I do not claim to own him or anything else that may in fact be the thought of the lovely writer Jo Rowling is, please don't sue me. I do however own all original characters in whole or in part that appear in this story. This story is not HBP compliant, though quite a few things are taken from that book; again I own nothing except for the plot and original characters. Thank you for reading! –Gypsy Jade
Summary: Not fully HBP compliant. Harry starts having strange dreams and they all end the same, with unearthly silver eyes haunting him. Something is going on and for the first time in the last 10 years if not the history of Hogwarts two new teachers grace Hogwarts.
Author's Note: I want to point out that this chapter, kicked my arse, respectively to write. But aside from that, that from time to time I will present in my writing certain theory's that I did not come up with on my own. I will do my best to give credit where credit is due but I do read quite a bit, both on and other sites that offer fan fiction, this includes Quizilla. Therefore, there's a good bet that I'm not going to remember where I first read a certain theory, so please I ask those of you reading this that if you notice I used someone else's theory and you know where it came from and I have not given credit to that person, you let me know ASAP. I know what it's like to feel cheated when someone tries to pass off your ideas as their own, I do not want to do it as well. The theory in question will be put foward next chapter and it has to do with Halloween.Thank you and now back to your regularly scheduled fan fic! GypsyJade
Chapter 7
A Ball on All Hollow's Eve
Having deposited their books in their dormitory Ron and Harry lazily made their way back down the stairs for dinner. They assumed Hermione was already there so it came as a bit of a surprise to find Ginny talking to some other 5th year girls and Hermione shinning brilliantly in her absence. Before they got a chance to ask they caught sight of her coming into the Great Hall, speaking with Professor VanHouten, Harry wondered if he would ever be rid of the woman. The older woman shook her head at Hermione as they neared where Harry and Ron sat, Harry couldn't help but hear the words Malfoy had said earlier echo in his head, "Trust me when I say you couldn't handle her if you tried".
"Thank you Professor." Hermione smiled as she sat across from the boys and next to Ginny. Ron and Harry exchanged a look but before they could ask Professor McGonagall was tapping her goblet to get their attention.
"Your attention please!" Slowly the student's chatter died down and Harry noted their new Professors having a silent argument.
"Yes, thank you Minerva. I would like to make a quick announcement before dinner is served tonight." Dumbledore addressed the student body with an enthusiastic demeanor Harry had not seen since his fourth year when the TriWizard Tournament was held at Hogwarts.
"In honor of our very own Professor VanHouten's birthday, Hogwarts will be having a Masquerade Ball on Halloween, open to fourth years and up from 7 pm until 1 am. Luckily Halloween falls on Friday this year, I will give you more information after we have all sufficiently stuffed ourselves. Dig In!" The Great Hall immediately erupted into excited whispers as there had not been a ball of any sort since Harry's fourth year. In fact other than the usual All Hollow's Eve Feast, not much was done at Hogwarts on that day, and really thinking about it for the first time Harry couldn't understand why. Thinking of all this meant that Harry was practically oblivious to the conversations going on directly around him, he did however notice that while Professor O'Riley looked quite pleased at the prospect of a ball, Professor VanHouten, for whom the ball was in honor, looked like she wanted very much to drown the Headmaster in his flask of pumpkin juice.
"Harry? Harry?" snapping out of his reverie Harry found himself staring at the slightly smaller hand of Ginny, who looked very Cheshire cat like. He looked around to find amused looks on his friends' faces and wondered if he shouldn't have been paying attention. The Fates must have been smiling down on Harry at that moment because McGonagall started tapping her fork against her goblet to gain the Hall's attention once again, saving Harry from any teasing, at least for the moment.
"Now that we have all sufficiently stuffed ourselves with the most delicious food that our wonderful house elves have concocted for the night I am free to tell you the splendid details of this special occasion" Harry could almost hear Professor VanHouten's snort at this comment, but Dumbledore chose to ignore it, must have been another one of those moments when he went momentarily deaf in one ear.
"It is not every day that one of our staff turns 20, and after much deliberation I have decided it is indeed a splendid age, though honestly every age is good if you ask for my personal opinion…" Harry couldn't bite back a smile as Professor McGonagall gently cleared her throat to remind the Headmaster he was once again going off on a tangent.
"Of course, that isn't the point. As I stated before it shall be a Masquerade Ball, costumes of some sort shall be required, though masks and dress attire will also be permitted. If you have any sort of question regarding your attire please direct them to your head of house, though there will be a dress code list present in your Common Rooms by tomorrow morning. That is all, you are all dismissed." Students started to trickle out as Harry and his friends caught one very blonde Slytherin heading up to the Head Table. Curious they all watched the exchange between the Prince of Slytherin and Professor O'Riley, which Harry noted was blushing and glaring at Professor VanHouten who was apparently pointing out the advantages in favor of her cousin. Harry was almost positive that was a bad idea, seeing the slow Cheshire cat smile spreading on the latter Professor's face, who seemed to relent to the blonde boy and walk off toward the side door the teachers so often used.
Word spread by breakfast that Draco Malfoy had asked Professor O'Riley to the Masquerade Ball and she had agreed. This brought up the question of how Dumbledore could allow any sort of student/teacher relationship. One that was addressed the next morning by the Headmaster himself.
"It has come to my attention that many of you are wondering about the situation between Professor O'Riley and Mr. Draco Malfoy." Harry noted that Professor VanHouten looked quite cross, and was silently thanking Merlin that they didn't have her class today.
"I'm sure that you're all well aware of the school's code of conduct as it is quite clearly stated in Hogwarts, A History but nonetheless I shall remind you. In this instance neither Professor O'Riley nor Professor VanHouten are covered, as the code clearly states that any and all relationships between a student and a Professor with a 20 or more age difference are prohibited. Now that I have settled that, you may go on with your breakfast." The rest of the morning passed in a haze.
Herbology and Transfiguration were the longest periods of Harry's life as far as he was concerned. The former was right before lunch and the latter was his last period of the day, Harry only wanted to get back to Gryffindor tower, change and head down to the Quidditch pitch for practice. He wasn't completely sure why, but during this morning's announcement Harry felt slightly paranoid. And looking around the Great Hall he managed to catch, Malfoy, Professor O'Riley, and Blaise Zabini all watching him. He just didn't want to have to think about it. Finally after Professor McGonagall handed out the assignment he was free, gathering Ron, Ginny, and Dean, Harry invited them to go with him. Ron and Ginny quickly went to change and Dean grabbed the playbook he had been helping Harry with. Surely this had to get those looks and Professor VanHouten off of his mind.
"We need to work on strategy." Harry absentmindedly messed with his hair. They had been out on the pitch for close to 3 hours now and he was looking over the notes and comments Dean had on the playbook. If it were up to Harry they would have stayed there all night, but right about this time Ron and Ginny's stomachs started to growl and Professor O'Riley came around.
"Alright lad, you've worked them hard enough for now. Clean up, the lot of you and head inside for dinner. Harry, I'd like a word once you're done" No one had heard her come up but now they scurried to do as she said even Harry, though he wasn't sure he was going to like this.
"You wanted to speak with me Professor?" Harry sat next to Professor O'Riley who had seated herself on one of the benches. Being Ron's cousin, Harry learned quite a bit about Professor O'Riley. Even though she had in fact inherited the Weasley red hair, she was only related by marriage, Ron remembered that she was the only one to ever prank Fred and George to the point of earning even their own praise.
"I did. I wanted to ask who you were going to invite to the Yule Ball." Harry nearly fell off the bleachers at this. He blushed brightly and wondered why Professor O' Riley felt she needed to talk to him about this, luckily for Harry, before his mind could come up with highly strange thoughts; he caught the mischievous twinkle he had become accustomed to with Fred and George.
"I'm not sure Professor, erm why do you ask?" Harry rubbed his neck idly as he watched the rest of his teammates walk back to the castle.
"Well I certainly don't think I should be the only Professor with the honor of being escorted to the ball by a student, do you?" There was that dangerous glint and Cheshire cat smile once again, and Harry wondered if he couldn't very well just run away.
Harry made his way to dinner mulling over what Professor O'Riley had proposed. In short, Professor O'Riley wanted him to ask Professor VanHouten to the Masquerade Ball. Harry was sure she intended it to be a prank on both Professor VanHouten and Draco. Harry however, wasn't sure it would be a good idea, but he was just as confused about the entire thing. On the one hand, Professor VanHouten intrigued Harry, to the point, that he admitted he might be forming a slight crush on the woman; on the other hand Harry was very much aware that Professor VanHouten most likely would hex him at the mention. It seemed that every courageous 6th year boy and up had asked Professor VanHouten to the Masquerade ball and she had yet to accept, though she did promise to dance with them. The questioning had gone to the point that according to the gossip mill, Professor VanHouten had threatened to give her entire 7th year classes 3 weeks of detention if they persisted. Harry groaned in frustration and laid his head next to his empty plate waiting for dinner to start.
"Hey mate, what's wrong?" Harry looked up to see Ron, Dean, Neville and Seamus looking at him quizzically. He contemplated not telling them, but he figured he might as well. Sometimes he just needed to confide in his male friends, so he told them what Professor O'Riley had proposed. Ron looked like he was about to have a coronary.
"My cousin has a serious mischievous streak in her and the only thing I can think of is asking for Fred and George's opinion about the whole bloody mess." Harry nodded at the idea while slightly musing if Hermione would be unbelievably proud of Ron at the moment.
"Hey where's Hermione?" at the mention of her friend's name Ginny Weasley looked up from her conversation with another 5th year girl.
"She said something about having an appointment with Professor VanHouten" Harry quirked a brow at this, Hermione couldn't have solved what Professor VanHouten was already could she? Hermione came in for dinner but didn't mention anything and Harry preoccupied with Professor O' Riley's proposition didn't bother to bring it up. As he watched her at the Head Table he wondered if he hadn't already made up his mind.