Chapter 2: Something's Coming

"What do you mean you can't go?" Harry asked in disbelief later. He looked down at his watch. "Tom lets you out in plenty of time, doesn't he? You could make it!"

Ron just smiled at his best mate as he hauled a crate of butterbeers down the stairs to the Leaky Cauldron's basement. The youngest Weasley boy- in fact, his entire family- was an exception to the Phoenixes rule of membership. The Weasleys were a very prominent pure-blood family, yet sympathized with the Phoenixes' blood equality cause. For this, other pure-bloods had shunned them, labeling them "Blood traitors."

"I'm sorry, Harry, but I've taken to closing up the pub for Tom. He's been feeling over-worked these last few weeks." He paused on the steps in between making trips with the crates. "I've haven't been doing so well myself, to tell you the truth. I've been feeling a certain sensation lately."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What sort of sensation?"

Ron just shrugged. "I don't know. A feeling that something's coming. I just don't know what it is."

"Okay, but the point is Tom should feel rested by now! Come on, ask him to close up for you, just for tonight. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Ron, I already told the boys you'd be there. If you don't come, I'll be marked as a prat." When Ron didn't answer, Harry pestered. "Come on, Ron, do it for me, old pal! For Harry!"

Ron sighed as he set down another crate. "What time does the dance start?"

"9:00."

"9:00 it is!"

Harry grinned broadly and held out his hand. "Wand to retirement?"

"Cradle to grave, and I'll live to regret this." Replied Ron, shaking it firmly.

"Who knows? Maybe that something of yours we'll be shaking it at the dance tonight." Harry teased as he ran off to tell the gang the good news.

Ron watched him go, contemplating what his friend had said.

In another part of the city that evening, Hermione Granger was checking herself out in the mirror. She was pestering her friend, Pavarti Patil, to cut the hem of the dress she had made for her down one inch.

"Come on, Pavarti, I feel too pure with it this length. One little inch?" she pleaded.

Pavarti was a pureblood and Draco's girlfriend. She felt very protective of Hermione. Nevertheless, she frowned before saying "A quarter of an inch."

"Half," Hermione bartered.

"Done," Pavarti agreed and set to work.

Just then, Draco entered the room. He coyingly goosed Pavarti, who gave him a playful swat in return. With a smile, Draco looked Hermione up and down. Hermione smiled back at him. It was hard to believe that just a year ago, she had been walking around London when Draco and some other Dementors had started harassing her about her Muggle-born status. Their provoking went a little too far and Hermione had boldly challenged Draco to a wizard's duel. After she had landed him in St. Mungo's with a week's-worth of injuries, the Dementors had made an exception to their pure-blood rule of membership and had given her and her parents special protection. She and Draco were like bother and sister to each other now. The gang had even found her a "boyfriend": Dementor Cormac MacLaggen, who now was craning his neck around Draco to get a look at her. Hermione liked Cormac well enough, but she didn't love him.

"What's this I hear about inches?" Draco asked warmly.

"Parvati's just cutting the hem of my dress by a half," Hermione explained.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "And why may I ask?"

"Because this is my first real dance as an of-age witch," replied Hermione and she began to playfully twirl around the room.