HARRY POTTER AND ICE CREAM DELIGHTS

Author: Luckner

Disclaimer: The characters and their world are the property of J.K. Rowling, various publishers and Warner Bros. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in getting this chapter up, but I was badly in need of a vacation. In London I saw the statue of a Yale (a.k.a. Centicore), and thought it the perfect creature for Harry and Luna to find.

CHAPTER 17: THE GATHERING STORM

The trip back to Hogwarts started pleasantly enough, with Harry and his friends telling each other about how they spent their holidays and the presents that they had received. Ginny took the greatest of delight in recounting how Luna had defeated Harry in a snowball fight on the grounds of the Longbottom Mansion.

"Every snowball you threw was perfect, how did you ever get so good?" Ginny asked in wonder.

"Just lucky I guess," Luna answered as she blushed slightly.

"Luck nothing, you could play professional Cricket anytime," Harry declared in admiration.

"How did you feel about that, Mate?" Ron asked with a smirk.

"Next time it's Luna and me against the four of you; that's how I feel," he declared boldly.

"No way, Harry; its girls against boys. That's the only fair way," Ginny stated firmly.

"What's fair about that, with Luna on your side we don't stand a chance," Neville said flatly.

"That's the 'fair' part;" Ginny said with a giggle, as she snuggled closer to Neville.

Ron knew that Neville and his sister were serious about each other, but he didn't like how 'touchy feely' they had become, and he made a remark about Ginny looking like a "scarlet woman."

Ginny went off like a Roman Candle, and Ron wished that he had never uttered a word. As her temper rose Neville knew that he had better separate the two or Ron was likely to get hexed; although after that 'scarlet woman' remark Neville was almost ready to do the hexing himself.

"Lets you and I take a walk, Ginny. I need some fresh air," Neville said in hopes of defusing the situation.

Ginny took his hand willingly, but leaving the compartment she gave Ron a look that clearly promised payback in his future.

"How could you say something like that, Ron?" Harry asked in disbelief.

But before Ron could defend himself Hermione put in her own opinion. "Because he always says stupid things before he thinks," she declared with a shake of her head.

At a loss for a satisfactory reply, Ron remained silent; but there was a clear feeling of tension in the compartment. Luna tried to open her friends up with some light conversation about school and Quidditch, but only Harry seemed receptive.

A few minutes later Ginny and Neville returned with looks of disbelief on their faces.

"Does anyone know what happened to Pansy?" Neville asked in a shocked voice.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"We just saw her practically throw two Slytherin second-years off the train. All they did was ask her about Draco, and she went nutters. We had to rescue them or I don't know what she would have done; and then she almost went after us" Ginny said in amazement.

"Didn't you hear?" Ron declared, eager to put his past mistake behind him. "Draco had to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas!"

"But why?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Dad said that the Ministry of Education had him declared a ward of the court because his parents are on the run. He said the Ministry has seized Malfoy Manor and all his family's money. I saw him in the hallway on the day we left and he looked ready to commit a murder. You know that Draco and Pansy have been pledged since they were born. She probably thought she was going to marry a rich husband, and now Draco has nothing," Ron said smugly.

"Pledged since birth, I've never heard of such a thing." Hermione said in indignation, taking a real interest in the conversation.

"That's the way it is for some rich, pure-blood families. The parents make the decision so the wealth and bloodlines are maintained," Ron replied, glad that Hermione was speaking to him again.

"That's barbaric! What about love?" She demanded angrily.

"For some families its all about money and power, and love doesn't have much to do with it," Neville explained.

"I'm glad your family didn't think that way," Ginny said as she took Neville's hand.

"So am I," he whispered softly, and moved a little closer to her.

Ron noticed the exchange, but this time he stayed silent.

A few minutes later Luna managed to get a game of Exploding Snap going, and thoughts about Draco and Pansy were forgotten in the fun of play. The laughter that resulted when Harry Potter singed his eyebrows for the third time soon filled the entire carriage, and the rest of the journey passed quickly.

- o -

But in another compartment, where Pansy Parkinson sat with several other Slytherin girls, none of them were laughing. The other girls were watching Pansy closely, as the high strung girl brooded in silence. Inside her robes, close to her heart, was a very important message from Lucius Malfoy to his son Draco. The senior Malfoy had visited Pansy's home over the holidays and had entrusted the scroll to her, which he said was critical to the Dark Lord's plans. Some things could not be entrusted to an owl, and this communication was one of them. Pansy hoped that it contained good news, because the last time she had seen her boyfriend he had been in an absolute rage.

Three days before the end of term Draco had been called to the Headmaster's office after his last class of the day. Pansy had walked with him to the hidden staircase guarded by the stone gargoyle, and she could tell that Draco was furious about being summoned like a common muggle. Pansy and Draco had been pledged since they were infants, and the girl could sense the boy's moods better than anyone.

When he returned to the Slytherin common room an hour later Draco was angrier than Pansy had ever seen him. The Ministry of Magical Education had issued an order that, because both of his parents were wanted by the law, the boy would not be allowed to return home for the holidays. He was given the choice of spending the holidays at Hogwarts or at a muggle orphanage. A second shock came when Dumbledore informed him that Malfoy Manor, where he had been born, had been seized by the Ministry of Magic. In one terrible moment Draco felt that everything had been taken from him: his family, his home and now his very freedom. He told Pansy in angry terms that he thought he should run away and join the Dark Lord to help strike down his oppressors.

Pansy immediately warned him not to think about such a step. The Dark Lord had ordered Draco to stay at school and gather information, and the Master was always to be obeyed. She calmed him slightly by saying that she would remain at Hogwarts over the holidays and keep him company. Unfortunately the Dark Lord had other plans for Pansy, and her parents ordered her to come home.

On the day before the students were due to leave for the holidays, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle received very unwelcome notes from their Fathers. Both boys were ordered to stay at school and keep Draco company; almost as an afterthought it was mentioned that their gifts would be sent by owl express. This news was little consolation for Draco however, because the 'Slytherin Prince' had never regarded the two boys as friends. He simply used them as 'muscle' in the same way that his Father used their fathers, and among his friends he spoke about Crabbe and Goyle with utter contempt.

The two boys were considered something of an embarrassment to Slytherin House, and its other members never missed the opportunity to ridicule them. They were regarded as fat and stupid, and it was only their strength that made them of any use at all. But if Pansy and the other Slytherins had looked a little closer they might have noticed a change in the two boys over recent weeks.

Left without friends among their peers, the two teens sought out the association of the younger Slytherins with whom they felt more comfortable. Many of these first- and second-year students had been in the last train carriage on the fateful ride to Hogwarts in September. They told their large friends what they had seen and heard during the journey, and Crabbe and Goyle listened closely. And they began to wonder the unthinkable: could Harry Potter and his friends actually win? Close association with Draco always seemed to lead them into trouble, so they began to avoid his company whenever possible. They realized there was little they could do to escape their destiny, but they still wished they had been sorted into another house.

Upon her arrival at Hogwarts, Pansy immediately sought out her betrothed and delivered the message from his Father. The boy tore the scroll open eagerly, hoping that it would free him from the accursed school so he could join the fight. Instead he was instructed to remain, but on the last day of January he was ordered to sneak out and meet his Father on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. There was no room for discussion or debate; it was an order from Lucius Malfoy, and he expected his orders to be obeyed.

- o -

A different kind of surprise awaited Harry Potter and his friends on their first day back at school. Arriving for dinner in the Great Hall they were greeted by Professor McGonagall, who handed each of them a newly revised class schedule. The five Gryffindors, one Ravenclaw and one Hufflepuff all discovered that they had been advanced to seventh-year Defense Against the Dark Arts, starting the very next morning. This change particularly delighted Fred Weasley, who could now share a class with his girlfriend.

Professor Lupin had been carefully observing the teens over the previous weeks, and he had reached the conclusion that there was absolutely nothing that the sixth-year class could teach the special students. In a meeting with Professor Dumbledore, Lupin suggested advancing all of them to seventh-year studies; which was almost exclusively dueling.

Luna Lovegood had an additional surprise in the form of a letter bearing the Hogwarts seal. Breaking the wax impression, she discovered that the envelope contained a certificate of completion of all Hogwarts requirements in the subject of Potions. The certificate was signed by Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. But in addition to the certificate, the envelope also contained a personal note from Severus Snape asking Luna to meet with him after dinner was over. The young girl was absolutely beaming as she looked up at the irascible old potions master and nodded her head, and the rare smile that he returned shocked most of the people who saw it.

In the meeting that followed Severus Snape did the unthinkable. He offered Luna Lovegood the opportunity to serve as instructor for first- and second-year Potions, and the young girl eagerly accepted. It meant dropping her muggle studies class, but Luna felt it was a great opportunity.

The next day members of the seventh-year Defense class were surprised when seven younger students entered the room and took seats in the rear. When Professor Lupin explained their presence in class he received a mixed reaction. Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were proud to see members of their Houses advanced, but Slytherins and Ravenclaws were not. They regarded it as pure favoritism, and yet another example of how the 'Golden Boy' and his friends were given special treatment.

The seventh-year Defense class was different from other classes on the subject in that it was almost exclusively dueling; students were encouraged to challenge each other and then the duels were critiqued by the rest of the class. During the first meeting of class all of Harry's friends received challenges from seventh-year Slytherins and Ravenclaws, who were determined to prove that the younger students didn't belong in the advanced class. Professor Lupin explained to his newly advanced students that they had the option to accept or refuse the challenges. Not surprisingly, all of the challenges were accepted and dueling dates were set. Harry Potter was not challenged, as not even the bravest Slytherin was ready to duel someone who had already faced the Dark Lord.

After class, seventh-year Slytherin Adrian Pucey strolled up to Fred Weasley as he waited for Susan to finish speaking with Professor Lupin.

"Sorry I have to beat up your girlfriend Weasley, but that's how the class works," Pucey said with a smirk.

"Would you care to make a wager on the contest Pucey?" Fred asked coyly.

"I didn't think your family had enough money for betting," the Slytherin said in a snide tone.

"Well I wasn't thinking of money, I was thinking of something better," Fred answered slyly.

"Like what?"

"If Susan looses I'll come to dinner dressed as a girl, but if she wins you come that way," Fred answered with a smirk.

The Slytherin suddenly hesitated; it was not the kind of bet that he would want to loose…ever!

"No confidence, Pucey?" Fred asked, egging the boy on.

Glancing over at the shy Hufflepuff, Adrian's confidence returned. "You're on, Weasley," the Slytherin declared as he extended his hand to shake on the deal.

"No offence Pucey, but I think that I would prefer a Wizard's Oath on this; just to keep things square," Fred said.

Again Adrian Pucey hesitated; there would be no backing out if he agreed to a Wizard's Oath.

"Second thoughts?" Fred asked with a grin.

Adrian Pucey had never liked Fred Weasley, and he liked him even less at that moment; but he was left with little choice. "No, not at all….I swear by all my magic that if I loose my duel with Susan Bones I will appear in the Great Hall for dinner wearing a girl's uniform," the boy said reluctantly.

"And stay for the entire meal," Fred added.

"And stay the entire meal," Pucey added, wondering if he had made a serious mistake.

"Very good, and I swear by my magic that I will do the same if you win," Fred declared as he looked over at Susan with confidence.

The duels took place later that week, and it was hardly a contest. One by one the younger students defeated their older opponents. Most of them were nice enough to make the task look difficult, though it really wasn't. Susan even threw in a couple of unnecessary shield charms to delay the match and allow her opponent to save as much self-respect as possible. Pucey knew from the outset that he was outclassed, but appreciated Susan's efforts to let him save face. Some of his housemates had suggested a variety of dirty tricks he might use to defeat the girl, but when it came down to the appropriate moment he couldn't do it. The girl had earned his respect, and both contestants fought a clean duel. When Susan finally summoned the boy's wand away he felt no hard feelings, just a growing respect and a dread of what that evening would bring.

"A good duel, Susan. I wish I had known how good you were before I made that bet with your boyfriend," Adrian said in a friendly way as he shook the girl's hand. Susan hadn't known about a bet, and was rather shocked when Fred told her the terms.

"Well I'm glad I won, your legs were never meant for a skirt," she said with a giggle; impressed that Fred was willing to risk so much embarrassment for her.

But not all the matches were friendly. Cho Chang had challenged Ginny Weasley, and then tried an old dueling tactic to give herself an edge. She felt if she could get Ginny really angry the younger girl might lose her concentration and the fight. To accomplish this she started making some very unkind remarks about Ginny and Neville Longbottom. It was Cho's greatest mistake, and Ginny went into the match looking for blood. Before the contest was over Cho had lost all of her hair, had grown warts and boils over most of her body, and had an odor that could only be described as terrible. With the last of these spells the girl fled the dueling court in embarrassment and ran the entire way to the Hospital Wing. The match was awarded to Ginny, and everyone learned not to mess with the youngest Weasley.

That night Adrian Pucey entered the Great Hall wearing a girl's uniform, and was greeted with thunderous laughter. But at Susan's insistence Fred allowed him to leave to change into more proper attire, and his suffering was brought to an early end. Later that night the boy thanked the girl profusely and admitted to Fred that his girlfriend was the strongest opponent he had ever faced.

"She's a good kisser, too," Fred said with a smirk.

- o -

As the icy grasp of winter took hold of the English Midlands, a feeling of general unease grew among the followers of the Dark Lord. Their leader, who had once seemed so bold and aggressive, now seemed to be choked with caution. Hasty whispered conversations began to be exchanged between the members of Voldemort's inner circle; and even the most inexperienced of Death Eaters knew that something was wrong.

Naturally the question arose, however fearfully, as to whether the Dark Lord was still the right person to lead them. In recent months they had suffered three major defeats at the hands of school children, and the all important fear which had been instilled in the wizarding population was beginning to melt away.

Lucius Malfoy, who had been responsible for conceiving all three operations, had insisted that his planning work was sound but that a lack of resolve at the highest level had led to their defeats. At the same time he cautiously put his own name forward in case a coup d'état should prove necessary; and he also began to gather other disaffected Death Eaters to his side.

It was only a few days previously that the Dark Lord had dismissed Malfoy's most recent designs for offensive operations against Ministry leaders. Malfoy believed that several key leaders could be assassinated in a coordinated attack on a Ministry sponsored trade conference that was being held in Edinburgh. Given enough destruction he believed that they could destabilize the entire government. The Dark Lord rejected his plan with the evasive statement that a new power had joined the conflict and that it must be carefully studied before aggressive actions could be undertaken. 'Could the Dark Lord be afraid of both Harry Potter and the new Minister?' Lucius wondered.

None of these speculations were ever intended to reach the ears of the Dark Lord, but of course they did. Bellatrix Lestrange, who was ever faithful to her Master, observed Malfoy and the other Death Eaters like an unseen shadow, and reported all that she saw and heard.

Regardless of what Lucius Malfoy and his followers might think, Lord Voldemort was not 'choked with fear' by the thought of Harry Potter. The Dark Lord realized that after three defeats he must move cautiously, for he could not afford another failure. He also realized from his own nightmares that a new power had indeed entered the war, and he needed more information before he could risk another attack. His opponent had clearly changed; there was a new confidence and strength that had not been there before. And how did the Lovegood girl factor into this changing equation? All these were questions that had to be considered.

By early January it had become clear that some action must be taken immediately as regards Lucius Malfoy; as a rebellion among the ranks of the Dark Lord's followers must be snuffed out quickly. As Voldemort pondered the situation he decided that the best way to understand Harry Potter's new strengths would be to observe him in action, and if he conceived his plan carefully he might eliminate an unfaithful servant in the process. He would allow Lucius Malfoy's own ego to lead him to destruction. If Lucius thought that Potter could so easily be destroyed, then why not allow him to undertake the task himself. Should Lucius fail the Dark Lord would be rid of a traitor, and would at the same time gain a better understanding of his enemy's power. And if Malfoy should succeed, the Dark Lord could strike down the traitor at the very moment of his triumph, and his mortal enemy would be gone as well.

With a satisfied smirk the Dark Lord touched his wand to his forearm, and in every corner of Britain his servants felt the burning of the brand that they carried. Each hastened to obey the summons, for the last to arrive would invariably feel the pain of the Cruciatus Curse for his tardiness.

Professor Severus Snape was at a critical junction in the preparation of a healing potion that he was preparing for Madam Pomfrey when the summons came. To leave at that point would mean the loss of three days work, but he knew that there was no remedy for it. With a sigh of frustration he set down the beaker of pickled dragon liver and walked out of his potions lab.

One by one the Dark Lord's servants assembled, forming a circle around their Master. When all were present they took a position of kneeling subservience before the Dark Lord. In spite of recent losses the number of Death Eaters was still formidable, though Voldemort realized that many were younger and less experienced.

"Ah, my faithful Death Eaters," he said in a tone that sent chills down the spines of many of those present. "I want those of you who have been with me from the beginning to remain, the others are to depart…for now," the Dark Lord ordered firmly.

The majority of the dark-clad figures hastily departed with sighs of relief. The dozen who remained stood up straighter behind their bone-white masks, and moved in closer to fill the gaps in the line.

"You my most faithful followers, who have been with me from the beginning, remove your masks so that I may see the truth in your eyes. Soon our victory will be assured, but first we must strike down one who would stand in our way. Which of you are brave enough to destroy Harry Potter?" The Dark Lord asked, but his eyes were clearly upon Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange immediately stepped forward; both eager to undertake the mission. Severus Snape remained rigidly in his place, but he observed everything with a keen eye.

The Dark Lord considered his two captains carefully before he spoke. "I appreciate your faithfulness Bella; but Lucius has earned the right to strike Potter down because of his continued loyalty," the Dark Lord said smoothly, and only Severus Snape thought he detected a note of sarcasm in Voldemort's voice.

Bellatrix Lestrange looked crestfallen as she stepped back into the line of those not chosen, confused by her Master's apparent rebuke.

"Step forward my most faithful servant," Voldemort ordered as he addressed Malfoy, but his words had hollowness about them. Failing to notice the mockery in his Master's voice, Lucius Malfoy stepped boldly forward and dropped to one knee.

"Your servant, my Lord," Malfoy declared with a note of triumph, as he cast an arrogant glance in the direction of Bellatrix Lestrange. The dark-haired witch lowered her eyes in frustrated disappointment, but spoke not a word. Lord Voldemort saw all of this, and made note of it.

"Do you accept the commission, Lucius?" The Dark Lord asked smoothly; barely able to control his growing dislike for the man.

"I do, my Lord," Malfoy declared with supreme confidence.

"Very well; you will begin immediately to develop a plan to destroy Harry Potter and those who stand closest to him. I know that you will not fail me."

"With my life, my Lord," Lucius declared confidently.

"Indeed Lucius, indeed. You may use whatever resources you need," the Dark Lord declared, a strange note of finality to his voice.

"Yes, my Lord," Malfoy answered as he backed up to his place in the line. He took a moment to cast another look of triumph at Bellatrix, who looked absolutely devastated. The two had been rivals for the Dark Lord's favor since the beginning, but now Malfoy knew that his star was on the rise.

"All of you depart now…except for Bella. I wish her to remain for a moment," the Dark Lord commanded.

After the others had departed, Lord Voldemort studied the dark-haired witch for a moment. Normally the Dark Lord would never show the apparent weakness of explaining a decision to a subordinate, but on this occasion he made an exception.

"I saw your disappointment at my decision, Bella," Voldemort said as he looked down at the kneeling woman.

"Have I failed you, my Lord?" She asked in a miserable voice.

"You have never failed me, Bella. When the time comes for Harry Potter to die you will be at my side to share my triumph," he said reassuringly. "But right now I must deal with Lucius and his ambitions; his ego will lead to his own destruction. And you and I will watch and learn from his folly."

Suddenly Bellatrix realized that Lucius was not being honored at all, but was instead being lured to his own death. An evil smile crept onto her face.

"Your servant always, my Master," she said in a tone of respect.

"And a more faithful servant I have never had. Should Lucius succeed in killing Potter, which I think unlikely, his triumph will last only seconds before I strike him down. Now leave me Bella, so I can think," he ordered.

- o -

When Severus Snape returned to Hogwarts he immediately went to Albus Dumbledore to report all that he had seen and heard. But the moment that the Headmaster heard that the news involved Harry Potter he ordered Minerva McGonagall to fetch the boy and Luna Lovegood to his office.

As Minerva left to find the teens, who would probably be in the Great Hall at dinner, she thought about how greatly the Headmaster had changed in the past few weeks. In the past he would have carefully filtered the information that would have reached the ears of Harry Potter, but now the old man seemed determined to share everything with the young Gryffindor. And then there was the matter of Miss Lovegood, who had only entered the circle of Mr. Potter's closest allies a few months previous; the Headmaster included her in everything involving the boy. Minerva could understand that necessity however, as the two of them seemed to tell each other everything. The passion of teenagers was nothing new to the old teacher, she had caught enough of then atop the Astronomy Tower; but there seemed something more here. Albus knew something about the two young people that he was not sharing, and Minerva wondered what it was.

A few minutes later Minerva caught up with the two teens just as they were leaving the castle for an evening walk. She informed them that the Headmaster needed to see them immediately, and with a touch of reluctance they accompanied her to his office. As soon as they were all seated, Professor Snape began to relate the events that he had witnessed just an hour previously.

"The Dark Lord seems determined to give Lucius all of the resources necessary to accomplish his task; which seemed strange to me because in the past he always wanted to take your blood personally. He has also instructed Lucius to eliminate Miss Lovegood and your other friends," Severus said gravely. And all of those present could tell that he took no pleasure at his words.

As Severus Snape related his story, Albus Dumbledore carefully gauged the reactions of the others in the room. Professor McGonagall visibly tensed as the information was revealed; her complexion paled, knuckles whitened, and her thin lips grew even thinner as they were pressed tightly together. It was the reaction that he would have expected.

However when he observed Harry Potter he did not receive the expected reaction. Although the boy appeared to be paying close attention, he generally seemed quite at ease; as did the young girl who sat by his side. The single exception occurred when Snape mentioned that Luna and his other friends were intended to be targets as well. The young man stiffened in his chair visibly, but a soft touch from his girlfriend caused him to immediately relax. A smile appeared on both faces as they exchanged a meaningful glance. It was almost as if they were having a secret, unspoken conversation; and it certainly wasn't about the dangers that they were facing.

Their strange reactions brought a measure of relief to the old headmaster. He was concerned that this latest revelation might bring forth an angry explosion on the part of the young man. But the fact was, with Luna's help, Harry Potter had moved past that stage in his life. He had accepted the fact that he was destined to be a target. He found it harder to accept that Luna would be also, but he realized that their lives were inexorably joined together. Luna Lovegood could be very assertive when she needed to be, and she had made it clear that he was not going to face these dangers alone.

Professor Dumbledore didn't know any of this, but from the reaction of the two he felt a growing confidence that they could handle anything that Lucius might throw at them. He also knew that their extra training, and the powers given them by Vivienne, would give them a considerable edge in any confrontation.

As the meeting was reaching its conclusion Minerva McGonagall could hold her emotions in check no longer. "Well what are you going to do about this, Albus?" She demanded.

"I don't think we need to be overly concerned, Minerva." The old man said as he steeped his fingers together. "I'm quite confident that Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood will be prepared for whatever Lucius Malfoy has planned. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Potter? Dumbledore asked.

Harry was temporarily taken out of his Luna induced daydream by the question. "Err…Yes, Professor, we'll be ready. I think that Lucius Malfoy has been on holiday long enough, and it's time that he returned to his cell at Askaban.

Minerva McGonagall couldn't believe how flippantly Harry referred to one of the most feared of all Death Eaters, but Professor Dumbledore's chuckle cut off any response that she might have given.

The meeting lasted for a little more than an hour, as everything was carefully examined and dissected. Harry and Luna realized that they would have to work harder at mastering their new magic to be prepared when the attack did come, but the visions sent to them by 'the Lady' gave them confidence of their ultimate victory.

As he rose to leave Severus Snape had one more thing to say, but his words were directed to Luna Lovegood rather than Albus Dumbledore or Harry Potter.

"I'll do all that I can to learn their plans and give you as much warning as possible," the potions master said sincerely.

"Thank you, Severus," Luna said, forgetting that she was only supposed to use his first name when they were alone together in the potions lab.

"You're welcome Luna," Severus Snape replied sincerely. He had not forgotten about the rule, but on this occasion he chose to ignore it.

Harry knew that a strange friendship had developed between Luna and the irascible old potions master, but it was not until that moment that he realized how deeply felt their feelings really were.

"And I want to thank you as well, Professor Snape," Harry said respectfully. And with that he extended his hand to the man that he had hated since his first year.

Professor Snape looked at the extended hand, and then into the sincerity of the boy's emerald-green eyes. Then he saw the smile on Luna's face and the twinkle in the young girl's eyes.

"You're welcome, Mr. Potter," the potions master said as he took the boy's hand. The fragile truce that the two had established became permanent at that moment. In an attempt to please a certain silver-eyed Ravenclaw they had both moved closer to the center than either would have thought possible.

- o -

But that night in his bed Harry Potter began to worry. He was only sixteen after all, and the fate of the world rested on his shoulders. In her own bed, Luna Lovegood sensed his worries and decided that he needed her. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the thought of being by his side, and a second later she was.

"Luna!" Harry exclaimed in shock, as the young girl suddenly appeared on top of him rather than beside him.

"Sorry about that, I guess I miscalculated a bit," she whispered a little sheepishly, as she repositioned herself at his side.

"But why are you here?" He whispered back in confusion.

"I got lonely," she said innocently, and snuggled closer to him.

"I'm glad you came," Harry said sincerely, knowing full well the true reason for her visit. The two got comfortable and within a few minutes had fallen asleep.

The next morning they woke up late, but felt amazingly refreshed. It always seemed to make things better when they were together.

"I better get back," Luna said softly.

"I wish we could stay here all day," he said honestly.

"Don't you think people might get a little suspicious when neither of us shows up for breakfast?" She asked with a grin.

"I'll risk it," he replied mischievously.

"Harry, is Luna in there with you?" Ron asked from outside the curtains.

"I gotta go, see you at breakfast," Luna whispered with a twinkle in her eyes and disappeared.

"Harry?" Ron asked again.

Reluctantly the boy pulled the bed curtains aside and peered out at his friend. "What is it, Ron?"

Harry asked innocently.

Ron knew that he had heard Luna's voice, but she was clearly not in his best mate's bed. He quickly bent down to look under the bed, and then stood up with a perplexed look on his face. "Oh, nothing," he said lamely.

But later, as Harry dressed, he received a knowing wink from Neville.

o

On the night of the last day of January, as most of the students were getting ready for bed, Draco Malfoy prepared for a most important meeting. Pulling his own invisibility cloak from the locked trunk at the foot of his bed, he carefully draped it over his head and shoulders. His Father had ordered him to keep their meeting a strict secret, and so he slipped quietly by Crabbe and Goyle as they sat by the fire in the Slytherin common room. Leaving the castle undetected, Draco followed the trail that led past Hagrid's hut to the Forbidden Forest.

'Oaf,' he thought to himself as he saw lazy white smoke rising from the chimney of the small, stone hut.

Reaching the appointed place the boy stood in the shadows of the trees in silence.

"Draco?" A voice whispered from nearby.

"Father?" The boy asked cautiously.

The hood of an invisibility cloak was removed to reveal the pale face and hair of Lucius Malfoy.

"You have come my son, that is good," the man said as he led the boy deeper into the woods, following a barely visible path that led away from the school. Draco feared the forest, but he feared his Father even more; and so he followed obediently. When they were well hidden by the trees, Lucius turned and addressed his son.

"The Dark Lord has given us a rare opportunity to bring glory our family, and I need your help to make it happen. We have been given the honor of killing Harry Potter and his friends," the man said proudly.

"What am I to do, Father?" Draco asked, his eyes bright with joy as he anticipated his long overdue revenge.

"You are the key, my Son. You will lure Potter and his friends to their deaths." And over the next few minutes Lucius carefully explained his plan and the part Draco was expected to play. When he finished the boy asked a single favor of his Father.

"Father, when Potter and Lovegood are dead I would ask that I be allowed to kill the Mudblood myself," the boy asked hopefully.

Lucius looked on his son with pride and an evil smile came to his face. "She is yours, my Son, to do with as you please."

"I will not fail you, Father, nor the Dark Lord," the boy promised earnestly.

Later that night as Draco lay in his bed he considered all the different ways that he might make Hermione Granger suffer.

- o -

Later that week, as Lucius Malfoy applied the last of the Glamour Charms that would disguise his appearance, he looked at his reflection with disgust. 'I look like a filthy muggle,' he thought as he saw the close-cut black hair and the brown eyes that looked back at him. But in the present circumstances such a disguise was necessary, and a reconnaissance was critical to the success of his plan. He picked up his cane and realized that given his current disguise a silver topped cane would probably be inappropriate. Removing the magical instrument from the cane, he slipped the wand in his pocket and apparated away.

He appeared on a grassy hill behind the village just before sunset, and gazed down on the peaceful houses below. As he moved down the slope his eyes took in every detail of the terrain and every structural element that might be an advantage or a disadvantage. He knew that Bella wanted him to fail, and that his whole future rested on the success of this critical plan.

In his mind he checked off each of the components of his plan one by one. 'If I establish the wards across here they won't be able to use those buildings for shelter, but it will slightly reduce the effectiveness of the cross fire. The ground will be good for anti-portkey and anti-apparation wards. I wouldn't want old Dumbledore arriving too early, although the diversion should keep him well occupied until it's too late. I can't allow any mistakes, everything must be perfect,' he lectured himself.

It was dangerous to attack so close to Hogwarts, but it was the only place where he was sure that the teens would be exposed to a lightening quick attack. He chuckled to himself at the thought that the carnage he had planned would happen on a day with romantic connotations; he would give old Dumbledore a surprise that he would never forget. When he was certain that everything was correct he apparated back to the ancient mansion that served as his Master's headquarters.

o

Luna Lovegood's birthday came in the last week of February, and Harry was in a real quandary as to what to get her. Luna had made such a difference in his life that he wanted it to be both special and meaningful, but he couldn't come up with the right gift. But then one day the answer was revealed to him like a streak of lightening.

Few people realized it, but Luna had a love of adventure that was second to none. Sometimes she just had to go off on a ramble of discovery, and for the last few months Harry Potter had been her eager companion in these expeditions. One Saturday morning Luna found this spirit of wanderlust upon her, and Harry could tell from her shimmering eyes that adventure was in their near future.

In addition to her Father's journals, Alice Longbottom had given Luna a blank journal at Christmas; and the young girl was eager to start filling it with their own discoveries. And on this Saturday she wanted to make a start, and Harry was eager to go with her. With a picnic lunch and a container of hot chocolate the two left early in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. They walked along the edge of the woods for a few hundred meters, until they were out of sight of the castle, and then plunged into the trees. They had only planned on being gone a few hours, and then return in time to start their weekend homework, but a startling discovery changed everything.

They had walked for more than an hour when they came to a small clear pool deep in the forest. Near the water lay several ancient logs, stacked into a natural fort. The trees had apparently fallen decades before, and were now covered with a thick growth of moss and ferns. The logs made a natural blind and the two teens decided to take advantage of the cover to see what might come down to the pool for a drink.

They saw nothing unusual for the first few hours, just an odd assortment of deer, foxes and several rabbits. They ate their lunch and talked quietly about a variety of things; but just as they were getting ready to start back they heard the sounds of something moving through the underbrush. As the sounds grew louder Harry realized that it must be an animal of considerable size and maybe more than one.

At that moment a large, tawny-colored creature emerged from the bushes nearby. It walked out into the pond to knee depth and began to drink watchfully. Harry had never seen such a strange beast in all his life, and leaned in closer to get a better look. It was the size of a hippopotamus, with large tusks on each side of its head and two enormous backwards pointing horns, similar to those possessed by a large bull.

"I don't believe it," Luna said in a whisper, as she stared at the strange creature in amazement

"What is it?" Harry whispered back, surprised that Luna would doubt the existence of anything.

"It's a Centicore, Harry. No one's seen a Centicore in hundreds of years," she whispered back in awe. At that moment the Centicore performed the most amazing feat of all, as it swiveled its horns from the backwards position to a forward defensive position. It was at that moment that Harry noticed the sounds of another animal moving through the brush, and seconds later a second Centicore emerged on the shore of the pool. Luna took in a deep breath as she watched the two animals in wonder. The first animal rotated its horns back into the passive position, and stepped forward to greet the newcomer; who was lighter in color and appeared slightly smaller in size. It soon became apparent that the two animals were very well acquainted and quite affectionate.

Harry and Luna watched the strange creatures the rest of the day and into the evening, until the two finally turned back into the forest. As they walked back to the castle, long after darkness made wand light necessary, the two teens felt completely at peace.

"Thanks Lu," Harry said softly, as he gave her hand a squeeze.

"For what? She asked dreamily, wishing the special night would never end.

"For sharing all this with me," he said sincerely.

"We have a whole lifetime to share Harry, and many discoveries," she said as she kissed him lightly. It was long after midnight before they reached the castle and later than that before they got to bed.

The next morning Luna excitedly told Ginny about their discovery at the Gryffindor table during breakfast. Harry had overslept from the night before, and had not yet arrived. Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas were watching the excited girl from nearby.

"I guess Looney's found another make-believe animal," Seamus said just as Harry arrived and caught the remark. His good mood from the night before immediately disappeared, and his temper spiked. He didn't care what people said about him, but Luna was another matter. He walked over and loomed above Seamus menacingly.

"I was with Luna yesterday. I saw the Centicores as well. Do you consider me looney?" The boy demanded in an angry voice as his eyes blazed.

One look at Harry told Seamus that he had made a serious mistake, and he began to try to apologize. But it was Luna's gentle hand on Harry's arm that caused his temper to calm.

"It doesn't matter if others believe or not; we know the truth," she said softly.

Her words calmed his temper, but the incident stuck in his mind. He didn't want anyone to doubt Luna ever again. There had to be a way for the two of them to prove their discoveries. Then he remembered seeing Neville taking a picture of Ginny the previous week. He had received a magical camera from his parents for Christmas, and was making himself into a bit of a nuisance with it.

A camera would be the perfect birthday gift; they could mount the photos of their discoveries in their field guide and then none could dispute them. Three days later he held a brand new camera in his hand, as he hurried up to his dorm to put it in his truck. He had contacted George Weasley at his shop in Diagon Alley and his friend had made the purchase and owl expressed it to Hogwarts. It was with a feeling of supreme happiness that he left for his first class a few minutes later.