Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter 28: Green and Purple

This time I didn't have the luxury of having my master at hand to sew a robe to the ball for me. As such, I had to order one myself. I looked down onto the piece of clothing strewn over my bed, I couldn't help but wonder if that had been a bad idea. Still, I admitted to myself that I had next to no sense of what looked 'good'.

With a shrug, I dressed myself and went inside the bathroom for some grooming. A couple of hairs were beginning to sprout from under my chin, to my great delight. I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do with them; I ended up shaving them clean off with a swift cutting spell I'd learned. I couldn't help but feel a slight surge of discomfort when working so close to my throat.

I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded to myself. Even if I didn't hold any delusions that this dance was an actual date, I still wanted to go looking at least adequately.

Adequately. I tasted the word on my tongue.

None of my fellow participants from Hogwarts had left when I entered the common room. Montague and Dolohov had decided to go together and were dressed in a shining red dress and black robes respectively. Ida was sprawled on the couch with a book in hand, not at all dressed as someone who was going to a dance in just a moment. It seemed to me as if she only looked at the book, but didn't read it.

"Goodbye, have fun!" Dolohov exclaimed excitedly when they left together, perhaps a little too excitedly.

Ida looked up from her book and smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "Bye, you too!"

As I closed the door behind me and greeted the cool autumn breeze, a thought struck me.

Had she expected to go with me?

-()-

Fireflies danced in the air and filled the tree of Nanshu in a beautiful orange glow. The dance wouldn't take place in the usual dining hall, but in an open space without a roof. Montague and Dolohov parted ways with me about halfway to the event. They continued with the stream of people further up whereas I followed a path which branched out similarly to the one to my own abode.

The house we had been assigned looked about the same as it had done when we arrived. You couldn't say that the place where Alice lived did the same. A large American flag was waving in the air mightily. They had even repainted the exterior walls into a gleaming white. It was a rather amusing contrast to the dull brown and grey houses down the branch.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door resoundingly three times. No sound came from inside for several moments before the door swung open suddenly. In its place stood a middle aged woman with a frown upon her face. She scrutinised me with a look from top to toe and her frown deepened.

Not quite knowing what to do, I cleared my throat. "Is Alice here?" I asked with a forced smile.

"Indeed," the woman said slowly. "So you are 'the boy who lived'?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Indeed. So you are Alice's headmistress?"

She chuckled. "I'm her principal, yes." The woman gestured for me to step inside and I did, if a little hesitantly. The place was a mess. That was the only thing it could really be called. It seemed the concept of a wardrobe didn't exist in the states.

I sat down in an armchair and tried to not pay too much attention to the cauldron over a fireplace inside of the room where it looked like blood was being boiled.

"I saw your duel didn't go too well," the principal commented in an attempt to start a conversation.

"That's one way of putting it," I said coolly.

She hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I thought you brits were to high strung for me to use the term 'fucking horrible'."

I scoffed. "Shame that your school hasn't won a single tournament then, when Hogwarts actually has one to its name."

Alice's principal laughed out loud at that. "Well said, Potter, but it won't stay true for long."

I raised my eyebrows. "You think that Alice could win?"

She shrugged and poured herself a mug of the red concoction. "If I don't believe in her, who will?"

Just in that moment, one of the doors slid open to reveal a girl. The dark skinned girl was clad in a green dress, her hair was set up in some complicated way I won't even try to describe.

"Hello," I said a little awkwardly.

She rolled her eyes. "How many times did she insult you?"

I snorted. "One insult and one compliment."

Alice nodded appreciatively. "One compliment? Not bad Potter."

The principal glared at the pair of us. "Get the fuck out of here before I force the two of you to eat human flesh for a month."

Alice laughed and dragged me along, out of the house.

"She wasn't serious, right?" I asked with a smile.

Alice shrugged. "Nah, she's fine."

I nodded slowly. "Cool…" I paused for a moment, perhaps it wasn't for me to mention. Eh, why not? "I couldn't help but notice the cauldron in your living room."

Alice nodded slowly with a smile on her face. "What of it?"

"It's not…blood, right?"

"It's not human blood," Alice corrected. "Don't worry, we haven't commited mass murder.

What kind of people had I gotten mixed up with?

"I see…that's…completely normal then."

Alice laughed merrily. "I'm only joking. I don't actually know what is in it." She shook her head and smirked at me. "I'm pretty sure that she only brought it in to scare you."

I chuckled, with a tiny bit of nervousness. "Why am I not surprised?"

Alice practically leaped along the small path. She was practically glowing from excitement. I couldn't help but smile at her mood, even if it meant that I almost had to jog to keep up.

"Anyway," Alice began with a wide smile. "How's life?"

"If I told you that it was a perfect dance of roses, would you believe me?" I said with a pointed look.

"Nah…but is it?"

I forced a smile. "Apart from the fact that I have to go to a dance with this really annoying girl, yes."

The American rolled her eyes. "If you want to play it this way, I am all for it."

I chuckled. "Does that mean I will have to endure you talking the entire night?"

She sent me a faux glare. "Yes, and you will like it or find yourself dancing with some ninety year old aristocrat."

"Sure," I said smugly. "This ninety year old will probably be a better dancer."

Alice laughed. "I can understand why you and your last date ended up on 'bad terms' if this is how you treat girls."

"'Bad terms' is a bit of an understatement," I said darkly. "And who knows, perhaps we will end up on opposite ends of the circle."

Alice smirked at me. "I hope so, that means that I'll have an easy win."

-()-

"You're kidding?"

"Do I look like I am kidding?" Alice said with an arched brow.

I laughed a little nervously. "Just out of pure curiosity, what was your line of thinking when you decided to go to a dance without knowing how to dance?"

Alice frowned but smiled shyly. "When you put it like that, it doesn't sound so well thought through."

"That's one way to say it. I prefer the term 'fucking stupid'."

Alice snorted. "I see Chaviet is already rubbing off on you."

"Who?"

"My principal."

"Aha, but I'd like to point out that it is called headmistress."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, if you're such an expert on dancing, why can't you just teach me?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Dancing isn't taught overnight, I spent countless hours trying to learn."

Alice wiggled her eyebrows. "Didn't know you were such a dancer, Potter."

I shook my head. "Sure…well…you put your hands on my neck and I mine on your hips."

She rolled her eyes. "I said that I couldn't dance, not that I was an idiot."

I put my hands up defensively. "Well then, if you are such a pro, I'll leave you to it."

The girl dressed in green glared at me.

-()-

The meal prepared for everyone was rather unimaginative. An overcooked steak with little to no seasoning, coupled with potatoes. Still, I would have to imagine that arranging a meal for this many people wasn't that easy, all things considered.

"So am I to assume that you don't have quidditch in the states?" I asked curiously.

She rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, you assume wrong."

I arched an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you dislike it…"

Alice met my eyes with an unimpressed look. "I don't dislike it…I hate it."

I began to stand up and leave. "I can't associate with someone who dislikes quidditch. I'm sorry."

Alice scoffed. "Yeah yeah. All I am saying is that it lacks any nuance and subtlety."

I plumped down on my chair again with an amused look. "And duelling doesn't?"

Alice smiled widely. "No!" She trailed off and looked off into the distance. "It's a game of strategy and strength. It requires aptitude in mind and body. Balance. It's…beautiful. Watching two good duelers is like watching a painting, like listening to a good song." Alice turned back towards me with a slight blush. "It's art."

I smiled. "I haven't really looked at it that way. When I think of duelling, I think of fighting."

Alice tilted her head and looked at me with a contemplative look. "They're not the same. They're as different as night and day."

"Perhaps, but even day and night come and go together."

Alice shook her head with a smile. "How philosophical." A waitress came and refilled both of our glasses with wine.

I frowned. "Is this allowed?"

Alice laughed. "Just because you are the youngest competitor in years, they're probably not prepared for someone like you."

I snorted. "Someone like me?" I tried a sip of wine and grimaced at the test. "This is awful."

Alice poured the entire glass down her throat in one swing. "I agree, but don't drink it for the taste. Drink it for the alcohol."

"You sound like an alcoholic," I remarked with another hesitant sip and consequent grimace.

"Who says I am not?"

I snorted. "You're sixteen."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you've never had a drink before?"

"Should I have?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

Alice burst into giggles. "Some time, I'll make sure that you get really, really drunk."

"I think I'll pass," I said with a grimace.

"Come one, it'll be fun."

I sighed but smiled shyly. "We'll see."

Alice managed to call the attention of another waitress who promptly refilled our cups of wine. I eyed the porcelain filled with the red liquid a little warily.

Alice laughed at my look. "Not tonight obviously, enough people will wake up with hangovers tomorrow as it is. Let's not become a part of that group."

I nodded but still decided to stay away from that glass and took a sip of my sparkling water instead.

"Anyway, your headmistress seemed to think you could win." I placed the glass back down at the table. "Can you?"

Alice frowned. "Chaviet says things like that all the time, it doesn't mean anything."

I raised my eyebrows. "Your duel is still the best one I've seen here."

She shrugged. "None of the 'Görans' had a difficult match in the first round. As soon as they do, you'll see what they can do in a duel."

I smiled at her. "To me, it sounds like you're making excuses against yourselves."

Alice nodded. "Perhaps, but it's better this way. This way, I won't grow complacent, I won't lose any motivation in my training."

"You seem to be taking this very seriously," I pointed out curiously.

"Yeah, this is my only chance," she admitted honestly. "I've applied for a position as an apprentice under a renowned duelling master." She smiled at me. "I would mention all the techniques he has mastered, but you wouldn't know any of them."

I smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I'm sure he is great though, if you want to learn from him."

Alice blushed a little. "Thank you, and yes. He is. The only thing is that I have to impress him here for a chance to be accepted." She sighed. "And I know that one from 'Görans' has applied for it as well.

I smiled sympathetically. "There's only one spot?"

Alice finished the rest of her glass. "Yup, and if I fail, my dream of becoming a professional dueler is gone."

"You'll manage, I know you will," I said supportively.

She smiled but it looked a little forced to me. "Thanks. What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What do you want to do with your life?"

As long as I had it intact to do anything, I would be happy at this point. I didn't say that out loud though.

"I don't know, haven't thought about it."

She raised her eyebrows. "You haven't even thought about your future yet?"

"I guess I've been a little…preoccupied. Haven't had the opportunity to think about it recently."

Alice frowned and looked at me with her head tilted a little to the right. "I have a question, if you don't mind?"

I chuckled and gestured for her to continue "Go ahead."

"It's a rather personal question," she warned.

"It's alright."

She took a deep breath. "I've noticed that you seem to see this tournament as some kind of training."

"Is that your question?" I asked with a little wry smile.

She rolled her eyes. "Why do you think of it that way?"

Ah. The question was how much I should tell her.

I stroked my chin pensively. "What do you know about what's happened in Britain the last…well…two decades?"

She looked at me oddly. "Apart from you surviving the killing curse and consequently killing some dark lord, not much."

I chuckled darkly. "'Some dark lord' you call him." I paused and met her eyes. "He ruined my entire life."

Alice's eyes widened. "I'm sorry" I didn't mean-"

"It's alright," I cut her off. "But unfortunately, what you 'know' is false."

She gave me a blank look. "You didn't survive the killing curse?"

I forced a smile on my face. "No, as far as anyone knows, I did. But he didn't die. Not really."

Realisation dawned on Alice's face. "I guess that he isn't too happy that a baby managed to survive him."

I snorted. "That's an understatement."

Alice nodded slowly. "I guess that explains why you want to get really good at fighting." A frown adorned her features. "But why did he just disappear after the incident if he didn't die?"

"It's…complicated. To put it simply, he was left very weakened, not dead. Until a few months ago."

"He's back?" Alice whispered with a sympathetic look..

I only nodded.

She chuckled a little nervously. "My problems seem trivial to yours now."

"I don't think so," I said with a sad smile. "I'd love to just have some normal, simple problems for once."

Alice arched an eyebrow. "I should feel offended that you call my problems 'simple'."

"Feel offended if you want," I replied with a smirk.

She snorted and we fell into a comfortable silence.

"Care to dance again?" Alice asked eventually.

People had begun to leave their tables and taken up space on the dancefloor again. It was truly dark now. The fireflies' dance was continuing over our heads. Illuminating the dance floor in a warm light.

I smiled at her. "Sure."

It was a rather calm dance which didn't really fit for people who were going as friends.

"There's a thing I don't understand," Alice said with a questioning look. "Why hasn't Britain issued an alert for a major dark lord? I mean, he must be classified as a major one, right?"

"I don't quite know what you are referring to here, but it could most likely be explained by the fact that our government is corrupt," I said darkly.

"They don't admit that he's back?"

"No, unfortunately. It's only my word against theirs as of now. The fact that many of his supporters are advisors and such to the minister doesn't help either," I explained.

We had to carefully dodge another pair of dancers who managed to lose their balance and end up on the floor in a heap.

"Do you want help?" Alice asked when we managed to start again.

I met her determined, brown eyes. "No, I don't want you getting anywhere near Britain."

She rolled her eyes. "I was thinking more along the line of the two of us practising together."

"Oh."

Alice smiled at me broadly. "So what do you say?"

I forced her to do a difficult swing in the dance, which earned me a glare. "I'd love to."

-()-

I put the arithmancy essay away with a sigh of content. That one had taken more time than I would like to admit. There were few better feelings than finishing something you had spent this much time and effort on. If I carried on like this, I should be able to scrape at least an 'EE'.

Aggressive scratching noises came from Ron who was sprawled in an armchair next to me.

"Careful there, you don't want to scratch through the parchment," I said with an amused look.

Ron didn't look up but continued his attempts to destroy his homework. "It's not my fault Snape is such a…"

I gave him a pointed look.

He rolled his eyes. "...deceitful bastard."

I arched an eyebrow. "I don't even want to know what you were going to say initially if that was your watered down version."

Ron didn't reply.

I looked at the watch over the fireplace.

"Aren't the quidditch tryouts soon?" I remarked.

The effect was instantaneous. It was like someone had fired a cannonball right next to him.

"It is in an hour," he squeaked out.

Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to remind him about that.

"You'll be fine," I said confidently.

He frowned deeply, like he only did when he was talking about quidditch. "Perhaps…the problem will be to replace Harry."

I raised my eyebrows. "I thought Ginny was practically selected for the role?"

"She kind of is…" Ron admitted slowly. "The problem is that she doesn't have a broom."

"There are schoolbrooms she could borrow," I proposed.

Ron snorted. "Then we would lose, we can't have our seeker on a schoolbroom," he spat out. The word 'schoolbroom' must have done something to him based on how he looked pained just by saying it.

"Aha," I said in understanding. "Couldn't she borrow Harry's?"

Ron looked at me. "That's a great idea! Unfortunately, I think he brought the broom with him."

"Send him a letter."

Ron nodded. "I will, good idea, Hermione."

"I have my moments."

Ron chuckled. "Damn many of them, you have."

"Language," I chided him with a pointed look. Still, I couldn't help but feel a little pleased.

Ron somehow continued his essay without any further urging. That left me plenty of time to think about how we would go about the newly formed 'Dumbledore's Army'.

It dawned on me that there simply wasn't any easy solution to this, at least not that we knew of. We would just have to hope something came up which gave us an opportunity.

Harry would have known of something, I was sure of it. A voice inside of me urged me to send him a letter and ask. No, that wouldn't work. And even if it did, this was my achievement, not his. I wanted to help him terribly, but he didn't want to be helped. He always succeeded with whatever he put his mind to, I would make sure people thought of me the same way.

"Don't forget the time," I reminded Ron as the time was creeping precariously close to seven o'clock.

Ron scrambled to put his papers away and rushed up the stairs to his dormitory. I smiled fondly and packed my own things away at a much more sedate pace. He returned panting heavily, brand new broom ready in hand.

"I have a book I need to return, I'll go with you," I said and stepped out the portrait hole.

Ron frowned. "Just be careful, Malfoy handed out three detentions just yesterday during lunch."

I rolled my eyes. "And if the rumours are true, which, let's be honest, they are, he had a legitimate reason for doing so."

Ron snorted. "Since when did pig sounds become a punishable crime?"

I looked at him, unimpressed. "Ever since Harry."

Ron shrugged casually. "I still think he must have had a reason for it."

"So that's it? Just because Harry does something, it must be right? Do you follow him so blindly?" I said heatedly.

Ron held his hands up in defence. "Maybe, but don't you do the same with the teachers and Dumbledore?"

We reached the entrance hall where two aurors were stationed. Umbridge had grown suspicious of something and brought a few aurors to patrol the castle along with the newly formed 'Inquisitorial Squad'.

"See you," Ron said with a wave of goodbye as he exited through the great wooden doors.

I turned to the other direction towards the library and ignored the suspicious looks the aurors sent me.

The library had its usual scent of ageing parchment intact; Madam Pince didn't even inspect my book as I handed it back in. Somehow, that felt like one of my greatest achievements. Every time Ron handed a book back, she inspected every single millimetre under a magnifying glass. I felt oddly proud over the fact that she trusted me to this extent.

It was late November and the chill was making itself known. It was just that period before it would become freezing cold but after the time where it was all rain and no real chill. Luckily, I had plenty of torches as companions along the corridors on my way back. I turned around a corner and spotted two people standing and talking to the aurors in the entrance hall. Both of them had green details on their robes and were blonde. If they spotted me, there would be trouble.

Malfoy had been different the past couple of days. Every single transgression was met with detentions and loss of points. It looked to me like he was angry at everyone all the time, except for Greengrass who was basically attached to his hip at this point. I wondered if there was something going on between them.

I sighed and decided to take a longer, but safer way back to the common room. The corridors blended together as I walked. It struck me how much of Hogwarts held absolutely no decoration at all. The main halls and corridors were well adorned, but these ones were empty and cold.

I turned around another identical corner on the fourth floor. There wasn't anything special in the corridor, I wondered why it even existed since it held no doors or…well anything really. The torches only flickered to create distorted figures along the walls. Then it happened, a torch at the end of the corridor slowly faded from its warm inferno of orange into a cold and powerful purple.

I stopped and looked at the torch curiously. It didn't feel or behave any different from a normal torch. I surveyed the corridor around me. No one was in sight. Then why would a torch turn purple out of nowhere? I certainly had never seen anything similar before here.

Just as I was about to just shrug and decide it was some weird happenstance I stumbled upon, another torch changed colour further down the corridor. I frowned and approached that one. When I reached its light and warm presence, another torch changed further down the new corridor.

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion and took my wand out. There was definitely something at play here, the question was: should I follow the trail of torches?

Well, the torch was still on my way to the common room. I went to that torch, and the next one, and the next one. I briefly wondered if it was some kind of spirit or magic which tried to lead me back to my common room. The purple lights led me up staircases and down corridors up to the seventh floor where my common room was. Curious.

Just as I climbed the last stair to reach the topmost floor, I began to walk the usual path to the right to where the fat lady was held. However, I didn't see any purple torch appear this time. I turned around and to my frustration, it was now in a corridor to the left. I sighed, that meant that my theory was incorrect. Which raised the question if it was safe to follow.

I looked at the flickering purple torch. With a deep sigh and cursing my curiosity, I turned back around and followed the torch. I didn't have to follow many torches before I reached a tapestry. Just as I stepped a foot in front of it, every torch in the corridor erupted into wild flames of purple. I gulped in fear, whatever this was, it clearly held some power. Either way, whatever was leading me on, wanted me here. I inspected the tapestry intently. 'Barnabas the Barmy' was inscribed on a small plate. I wondered if this was one of the places where a secret passageway was revealed. Did someone wait behind the tapestry to get a jump on me?

I quenched the flame of insecurity and tried to pry it open or scratch his ear or anything. Eventually, I had to admit defeat. Most passageways were opened in the most obscure ways. Ways which made me wonder how someone possibly discovered them in the first place.

Then I got an idea.

"Purple!" I exclaimed confidently.

Nothing.

"Purple flame!"

Nothing.

"Purple fire."

"Purple torch."

I sighed in defeat, there was no solution. I turned around to finally return to my common room when my eyes widened in shock. On the other side of the corridor was a door. A door which certainly hadn't been there before. I inspected it with a hesitant look. I felt a little bit like an idiot for looking at the tapestry for so long.

With a deep breath and wand held high, I approached the door which swung open soundlessly. The door was made of pure silver, it stood out brilliantly against the rather dusty and dull walls of Hogwarts.

The inside was incredible. It was large, very large. There were bookshelves lining the walls with large labels. 'Curses', 'Jinxes' and 'Shields' a few of them read. There were several circles I recognised all too well from my brief period as an aspiring duelist.

It was perfect for a large group of people who wanted to learn defence. A little too perfect.

As if the room had sensed my thoughts, a parchment with some writing on it appeared on the floor in front of me. I swallowed audibly and picked it up with slightly trembling hands. The ink was purple, exactly the same shade as the torches I had followed. I smiled, I was beginning to detect a pattern here. I knew that purple represented wisdom, creativity and mystery, somehow that felt fitting.

In neat, purple letters, it was written:

Welcome to the room of requirement. I've noticed that you need a place like this, so you shall have it. Simply walk three times in front of the door and think of what you want to open the room.

I trust you will put this to good use, your friend needs your help. From all of you.

Perhaps you will hear from me again.

Hogwarts

I stared at the signature. It was signed as 'Hogwarts'.

I felt a shiver run down my back, but not from fear or horror or discomfort.

"Thank you," I whispered out loud.

No one was with me to hear. But now I wondered if that was really true. The school wanted me, wanted us, to fight back. We would sure as hell fight back.

-()-

The walk back along the branches towards our hut was strange to me. Not that I didn't know what was going on or that people behaved oddly. No, it felt like I wasn't even there. I saw the worn tree road illuminated by fireflies as clearly as I always saw the world. It felt like I would burst. Not from being full or from being punched. I wanted to just break out in laughter then and there.

For what?

I don't know.

I couldn't help but have the widest of grins on my face.

It felt like I was full of emotion. That was the best way I could put it. I felt so much: elated, relief, happiness. Perhaps it was a stupid thing to say, but I felt too much.

I needed to let it all out, but I didn't know how. I didn't want to either. If I could live my entire life like this, I would have.

It was strange, how could a simple walk I'd done a hundred times before be so…freeing?

The question was quite simple. Call me caught up in the moment and high on emotion, but I could see no better moment in my life than the first time Alice said 'I have a question'.

I almost leaped along the path, I could imagine that people looked at me oddly. I looked at them all as I passed them, but I didn't see any of them.

I was walking along the clouds.

I hated the door to our house with passion. I smiled when I spotted it.

I barged into our house with an attempt to compose myself.

Ida was sitting exactly where we had left her a few hours earlier with a book in hand. She didn't say a word to me.

"Are Montague and Dolohov not back yet?" I asked and gestured to the open door to Monatgue's empty room.

"They're in Dolohov's room," Ida said gruffly.

"Both of them?"

She only nodded slowly.

"Oh."

Ida turned a page. "Oh indeed."

A/ : Yes, I know, the tempo has slowed has down these past few chapters. But from now on, it will speed up again. Next week will see the second duel.

It is time to see if Harry really has grown or if he will be thoroughly humiliated again. Who knows what will happen? I guess I do, but you don't... yet.

Anyways, I appreciate everyone who've read this far. There'll be another chapter next week, same time as always.

Cheers!