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Matsuki Sakata – Me too! There's just not enough of them out there.

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Chapter Twenty Three

By Rosa241

Percy POV:

Rubbing my forehead slightly I can't help but sigh. This headache isn't shifting any time soon. For the last week it's been there throbbing behind my eyes. I've always been prone to headaches but this is getting ridiculous. Shaking my head I try to force myself to listen to Professor McGonagall.

"A ball?" A girl at the front voices rather too loudly.

"Yes Miss Bell. The Yule Ball. It is part and parcel of the Quidditch Cup. Whichever school holds the event also hosts the ball. Now you are all expected to attend although you don't have to bring a date you may do so as you see fit." Great. Something else to worry about. I suppose being one of the champions I'll end up having to bring a date. Perfect.

"A ball? Dates? Bloody brilliant that is. Whose stupid idea was this?" Oliver whispers behind me. Despite the pounding in my head I can't help but smirk at the thought that forms in my mind. This kind of thing is something that Oliver would absolutely hate.

"Is there something you would like to discuss Mr Wood?" Professor McGonagall could spot someone talking from across the great hall. The woman's got eyes like a hawk, not to mention her hearing is second to none. It's like she has this radar or something.

"Do we have to go Professor?" Most of the class snigger at his words, myself included.

"Yes. Attendance is mandatory." Although I can't see him I can just picture the way he's sulking right now. Arms folded, glaring at the table and scowling into his book. "Now that's out of the way you need to turn to page 216. Last lesson we were looking at the…"

As she begins explaining today's lesson I can't help zoning out again. This headache is continuing to pound behind my eyes. I just can't seem to focus. It takes a moment before I register the prodding on the back of my shoulder. Opening my eyes again I spy the note in the desk in front of me.

Are you okay? You've been out of it for days now. Maybe you should go to the nurse?

Screwing the note up I shove it into my pocket and force myself to focus on the lesson in front of me. Something inside my mind knows that he's telling me the truth. I should go to the nurse, I probably should have gone a few days ago but I haven't. I haven't and I know why. Going to the nurse would mean admitting that there's something wrong, it would be admitting that I've got a weakness. I've always had trouble admitting that there's something wrong, admitting that I've got a weakness, more to do with Markus Flint than I'd like to think about. Admitting that I've got a weakness is like admitting that I'm not strong enough.

I'm fine.

Harry POV:

Yule Ball.

An actual Ball.

The whole nine yards. Dressing up, dancing, dates…

It's that last one that has my mind racing.

I have to find a date. I've never even been on a date and now I have to ask a girl to the Ball. How the hell am I supposed to do that?

What am I meant to do just walk up to a girl and say 'hey, feel like going with me?'. It sounds a lot easier than I'm sure it is. Who the hell would I ask anyway? I haven't got the foggiest idea. Well that's not true…I know who I'd like to ask.

Cho.

Cho Chang.

She was the Ravenclaw seeker and very few knew that I'd had a crush on her for a while now. It was hard not to. She was good at quidditch, pretty, smart and popular. What wasn't to like?

I couldn't really ask her could I?

Would she say yes?

There's no way she'd say yes is there?

Could I really just walk up to her and ask her to go with me?

A familiar popping sound interrupts my thoughts and forces me to look up from my position on the bed.

"Dobby? What are doing here?" It's been a few weeks since we discovered that Dobby was working here in the castle and I have to admit to being pleased. It was nice to have him close by. Nice to have him somewhere that I could keep an eye on the troublesome house elf.

"Master Potter, Dobby has some troubling news. Dobby isn't really sure what to make of it." He gives me a worried look as he rings his hands together.

"What is it Dobby? What's wrong?" This can't be good. The last time he came to speak to me in this state we ended up with the chamber of secrets being opened. What's wrong now?

"Dobby has heard things Master Potter. Heard things around the castle." Gesturing for him to sit down he smiles before plonking himself on the corner of the bed. "Dobby likes to walk around the castle, likes to inspect the paintings and armours. It's a very nice castle. But Dobby has been hearing things."

"What exactly is it you've heard Dobby?" As nice as it is to speak to him it's going to be a lot easier if he just gets to the point.

"People walking about sir. Dobby has heard people walking around the castle during the night." Sighing with relief I can't help the smile.

"That's normal Dobby. Either it's the teachers, the ghosts or other house elves. It's nothing to worry about." Despite my words he sits there still with that worried look in his eyes.

"But Dobby doesn't see them." What? What on earth is he talking about? "You see when Dobby hears the people walking he doesn't see anyone. Just last night Dobby knows he heard someone walking right past him but when Dobby looked there was no one there."

Part of me wants to say that it's the ghosts. They can probably appear invisible if they wanted but looking at the worry and panic in those large eyes I swallow my response. Someone is wandering around the castle but they're invisible?

Who?

Who would need to wandering around the castle without being seen?

Oliver POV:

Stupid Yule Ball.

Stupid potions essay.

Stupid Dumbledore, how dare he cancel quidditch!?

Stupid Percy.

Sighing I stop my flying and let the broom come to a halt. Hovering here above the field I close my eyes. This is always where I've felt the most at home. Always where I've felt like I could be free and breathe.

Pushing thoughts of the potions essay to one side, it's not due in until after Christmas now, I focus on my other worries. I can't do anything about Dumbledore or Quidditch. With the tournament in full swing I suppose all I can do is make the best of it, I might not be able to play Quidditch but there's nothing stopping me from practicing. It sucks but it'll have to do I suppose.

Percy.

My mind drifts onto the last thing on my list.

My mind always seems to drift to him but lately he's spent more time on my mind than ever. And that's not a good thing. He's not right. There's something wrong with him, something has been wrong with him for days now. I know he's always suffered from headaches. He thinks too much that's why and I suppose now he's got more on his mind than ever. This stupid bloody tournament. If I find whoever put his name in that Goblet I swear I'm going to wring their neck!

It's not just the headaches though. It's the nightmares. He's had a few since we got back to school and judging from the mumbling he does they've got a little something to do with the fight at the world cup. These one though, they're different. He doesn't want to talk about it and I know there's no point in me bringing it up. He won't admit to how bad they are but I can tell they're bothering him. He's usually quiet but lately it's almost like he's gone mute.

Somethings wrong. Somethings wrong I know it is.

Moody POV:

Looking at him across the hall I can see the tension in his shoulders. It's working. Before long he won't be strong enough to compete in the tournament but they won't pull him out it's against the rules. Unless you die or are physically incapable of competing then you have no option but to stay in the competition. He'll be getting weaker and weaker and when the second task comes around he'll be too weak to face off against those creatures in the lake. When it comes down to it he won't be able to fight and the inevitable will happen. No one will be able to put the pieces together, that stupid potions master doesn't have the brains to recognise the symptoms of the potion. By the time they do…it'll be too late. I could have just given him a poison and killed him out right but that would be too suspicious. No this has to be the long hall.

And that's your lot.

So Moody's trying to kill Percy!

Percy won't admit that he's not feeling well!

But never fear for Oliver knows that somethings wrong with his best friend!

Can he put the pieces together before it's too late?

Well you'll just have to keep reading and find out!

Until next time,

Bye Bye x