Order of the Phoenix
Tis the Season
By Ruskbyte
Chapter Thirteen
~ Tis the Season ~
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..."
With a tremendous amount of effort Harry strained every muscle in his body and finally succeeded in cracking his left eye open the barest fraction, groaning as the light of the fifth-year boy’s dormitory assaulted him.
Harry was now taking one draught of Dreamless Sleep Potion every week and a half, at the insistence of Ginny, Hermione, most of Gryffindor, several Hufflepuffs, a few Ravenclaws and the entire staff of the school (including Binns, but excluding Snape, which levelled it all out). He should have waited until that Friday to take the next dose, but since today was special, he had skipped ahead of the schedule and taken it the previous night.
As much as he hated the idea of getting up, Harry was unfortunately now wide-awake and within a hairs-breadth of vaporising Dean Thomas, who was carolling at the top of his lungs. Ron and Seamus, who were also reluctant risers, seemed likely candidates to help hide the body, Harry noticed as he sat up in his bed and glared at the excited boy.
*It does seem wrong to be so energetic this early in the morning.*
*Still, it is Christmas.*
And your point is?
"Come on!" urged Dean, hitting a still slumbering Neville with a pillow, "presents!"
Rolling off his bed, Harry grabbed the new dressing gown he had bought during the summer and put on his slippers, grumbling under his breath that it was a good thing he had taken the potion and had a decent night's sleep. Otherwise Dean would not be celebrating Christmas with them, now or anytime in the future.
"Remin' me t' kill 'im t'morrow," complained Ron, also pulling himself out of bed.
"Only if yah lemme help," concurred Seamus, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Dean, oblivious to their death glares, continued to bounce happily around. "Presents!"
Finally, after Ron and Seamus had dressed and Neville was roused, the boys exited the dormitory and bounded eagerly down the stairs and into the common room. Masses of brightly wrapped presents filled the large room and several students were already there and beginning to open them.
"Merry Christmas, Harry!" greeted Ginny, throwing her arms around him as she leapt up from where she was sitting with Hermione and several other girls. With his face buried in Ginny's currently unruly hair Harry could vaguely hear Hermione greeting Ron in a similar fashion.
"Merry Christmas, Gin," he told her as he reluctantly withdrew from her arms and gave Hermione a warm hug. "Merry Christmas, Hermione!"
Hermione beamed up at him and, after returning his embrace, grabbed hold of both his and Ron's arms and dragged them over to where a truly huge mound of presents sat. "Come on you two, we've been waiting forever. We've put all our presents together so we can open them together."
"POTTER!!!"
A loud bellow sounded from up above and a few moments later the common room was filled with laughter as Fred and George came charging down the stairs. Their faces were chalk white, which brought out their vibrant green lips and fire engine red noses. Topped off by their now electric blue hair, which stood out as if they had stuck their fingers in an electrical socket, the twins were now literally Gryffindor's resident clowns.
Struggling to breathe, he was laughing that hard, Harry looked up at the two of them from where he was sitting beside Ginny. "I guess you tried the Chewing Clown Gum," he managed to say between guffaws, his explanation bringing a fresh wave of laughter from everyone present. Turnabout was most definitely fair play when the twins became the butt of a joke like this.
"You did that?" asked Hermione, holding a hand to her chest.
Harry nodded and turned to the twins, who were glaring at him in outrage. "Don't worry, it will wear off about five minutes after you spit out the gum. An hour or so if you swallowed it in your... surprise."
Fred looked at George. George looked at Fred. Fred's bright green lips twitched. George's bright red nose wiggled. A moment later the two had found the humour in the situation and had joined in the peals of laughter.
"Brilliant gag, old bean!" declared George, clapping Harry on the back.
"You'll have to tell us how the stuff works," demanded Fred, shaking his hand vigorously.
Harry smirked at the two clowns and told them, "The instructions are at the bottom of the box."
The words had hardly left his mouth before the pair were bounding up the stairs and back to the dormitory almost as quickly as they had descended earlier. It was many minutes before normal conversation could resume in the common room after they left, but finally everyone's attention turned back to their presents and the delightful task of unwrapping them.
"I should have known," laughed Harry, looking at the edition of Hogwarts: A History Hermione had given him, holding the book up for Ginny and Ron to see.
"Why'd you give him that?" asked Ron, looking at her. "You know he'll never read it. Not while we have you around." Hermione smacked him on the arm by way of reply and then thanked him for the set of peregrine feather quills he had got for her.
Blushing red as a beet, Ron turned to his stack of presents and opened the package sent by his mother, groaning as he pulled out the customary Weasley jumper, in maroon naturally. Ginny was quick to start teasing him on it being his "favourite" colour, and he responded by chucking one of the smaller presents at her.
The gift unwrapping continued for some time, each gift being received with a broad grin and a profusion of thanks to the giver, if he or she was present. Harry was pleased to receive a pair of dragon hide boots from both Sirius and Remus; a thick leather belt with an intricately cast buckle in the shape of a lion from Ron, a curiously wrought iron giantish rune from Hagrid; and a pair of mismatched socks from Dobby. The Dursleys had ignored him entirely this year which did not bother Harry in the least.
The best present though, Harry thought, was the one from Ginny. It was a new wristwatch, to replace the one that had broken during the Second Task the previous year. Unlike Harry's first watch, this one was a wizarding watch and did much more than simply tell the time. Harry swept Ginny up in a warm hug and immediately strapped the timepiece to his wrist, delighting Ginny when this revealed that he was wearing the knotted leather cords she had sent him for his birthday earlier in the year.
By now all the presents had been opened except for two. The one was a long rectangular box for Ginny, from Harry. The other was Harry's present to Ron, which the disheartened Weasley had not yet been able to find. It was obvious just by looking at him that he thought Harry had declined from getting him a present this year. Since the reserve Quidditch team's spectacular defeat over Slytherin Ron and Harry had begun a slow process of reconciliation, but they had yet to fully rebuild their friendship.
With a look of utmost anticipation on her face, Ginny tore the wrapping away from her present and, licking her lips, pulled the top off the box. After several breathless moments, she finally opened her eyes, which she had shut upon opening the box, and looked inside. All sound within the common room ceased and every pair of eyes turned towards her as Ginny shrieked loudly.
"Well?" asked Ron, leaning forward and trying to see inside.
With trembling hands Ginny reached into the box and, with a dazed look in her eyes, withdrew a broomstick. It was magnificent. No broom ever built, except perhaps a Firebolt, could compare to the sleek and elegantly crafted implement Ginny held in her hands.
"The handle's made from cherry wood," Harry told her, looking for the first time uncertain about the gift and wringing his hands together nervously. "The twigs in the tail are a mix of yellow and redwood. It's almost as fast as a Firebolt, but you'll find it handles more like the Nimbus series."
"It's wonderful," breathed Ginny, eyes glistening as she looked from the broom to Harry. "I've never seen anything more beautiful."
Harry ducked his head and half whispered, "I have. That's why I built it for you."
If the silence in the common room had been utter before then, now it was complete. Ron made a small choking sound and gaped at Harry in disbelief, his eyes almost popping out of his head as his mouth worked by made no sound.
"You - you made it?" Ginny asked, looking down at the broom in awe. She held it, if possible, with an even lighter touch, as though it would disintegrate into sawdust at the slightest bump.
"Don't worry, it's not that fragile," Harry told her, seeing her sudden hesitance. "The only thing with more protective charms on it is Hogwarts. Over a hundred of them, the strongest I could manage."
Ginny looked at him for a moment and then deliberately put the broom to one side. She stared into his eyes and suddenly launched herself at him, as if shot from a cannon. She crashed into him and sent them both sprawling to the floor, arms and legs tangled together.
"Oh, Harry," she told him, pushing herself up and sitting straddled across his hips, "I don't know what to say. It's so much..."
"Don't say anything," he told her, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her up and off him as he rolled out from under her. As much as he liked the idea of having Ginny sit in his lap all day, he doubted either of them would appreciate the attention that would draw. "Just make sure you put it to good use."
Returning to where he had been sitting, surrounded by his already opened presents, Harry glanced at Ron, who was suddenly looking very deflated. Hiding a grin he snapped his fingers and pulled out a crumpled note from one of his dressing gown pockets.
"Here, Ron," he told his friend, "I almost forgot to give you your present." He handed the note to him and then sat back to watch. Ron looked at the note despairingly; it wasn't even a proper Christmas card. He sadly unfolded the note, brow puckering in confusion as he read it.
"'Don't scream'?"
He looked up at Harry and, before he could say or ask anything, vanished with a pop. Hermione gave a short shriek and jumped to her feet, while everyone else gasped with varying degrees of alarm, alternating between gaping at where Ron had been sitting and where Harry was sitting.
"Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?" Hermione was babbling, fast approaching a state of absolute panic when a roar unexpectedly sounded from upstairs in the boys' dormitory.
"YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Harry leaned back and smiled smugly. "The note was a Portkey back to our room," he explained as the roar tapered off. "The scream means he just found his present."
A few moments later they all heard the dormitory door slamming open and the pounding of feet on the stone floor as Ron barrelled down the stairs and back into the common room. When he entered, everyone began smiling just as broadly as Harry, for Ron was carrying a finely honed and crafted piece of cherry wood, with a collection of yellow and redwood twigs bristling at the tail end. He came to a halt in front of Harry, waving the broom in disbelief and completely unable to speak.
Harry rose from his seat and held out his hand, saying earnestly, "Merry Christmas, mate."
The common room erupted in a hail of cheers as Ron tossed the broom to one side and engulfed Harry in a bone-breaking hug, tears of joy and relief brimming in his blue eyes.
***
Breakfast that Christmas morning was a fun and laughter filled affair. The twins, putting Harry's gift to good use, managed to turn several dozen people into clowns afterwards by supplying the Chewing Clown Gum as an after meal breath freshener. The only Gryffindors to fall prey to their latest Wheeze were Hermione and Neville, the former having been so wrapped up reading the massive tome Harry had given her to realize who it was that gave her the gum, the latter simply being himself.
After spending nearly half an hour chasing his brothers around the Great Hall, trying to hex them with every curse he knew, Ron finally admitted defeat and returned to his seat next to Hermione. It was only his valiant efforts on her behalf, just moments before, that prevented her from hexing him when he commented that at least she didn't have a tail this time.
Finally satiated and replete with food, the Gryffindors, along with several students from other houses that had heard about it, worked their way through the two or so feet of thick snow that blanketed the ground. Once outside they had congregated at the Quidditch pitch and watched with amazement and awe as Ron and Ginny took to the skies on their new brooms.
Brother and sister were two black blurs, capped in fiery red, as they streaked around the pitch. An impromptu race around the stadium several times came about after a few minutes. Finally, after weaving in and out of the stands and around each other, the pair descended to earth and nearly suffocated Harry while trying to thank him.
After lunch, which was spiced up by the twins having jinxed the food so that the Christmas Puddings were not only flaming but also explosive, the Gryffindors ventured outside once again for a massive snow fight. A fair number of Hufflepuffs joined in, but the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students preferred to simply watch from the sidelines.
In the late afternoon, the students returned to their common rooms and dormitories to prepare for the Yule Ball that night. Harry accompanied Ginny back to Gryffindor Tower after the snow fight had come to an end.
"I've got another present. Just for you," he whispered in her ear, just before they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "I'll give it to you later, before the Ball."
"What?" she asked as he helped her through the portrait hole and into the common room.
Harry wagged a finger chidingly. "Uh uh, that would ruin the surprise."
God she's beautiful, he couldn't help but think as she pouted playfully at him, jutting her bottom lip out and staring at him with puppy dog eyes. Or what he thought were puppy dog eyes; Aunt Petunia had never allowed any pets into Privet Drive, so Harry had never really seen one.
*Those are the kind of eyes minstrels and bards write songs and poems about.*
I most definitely agree.
"All right," Ginny reluctantly agreed, starting up the staircase. "I'll be expecting to find both it and you when I come down."
"I'll be waiting," he replied, watching her run up the stairs until she disappeared around a bend in the staircase. Smiling with satisfaction he cross the room and sank into his favourite chair by the fire, trying to relax against the anticipation building within him.
*Good zing you arranged zis ozzer present,* noted Joan, *Giving ze girl you love a broomstick for Christmas? 'Onestly!*
*Not exactly a gift that says 'I love you' is it?*
There you go again with this love business, Harry sighed.
*We have hundreds, thousands of years worth of experience. Trust us.*
That's usually my first mistake.
It was several hours before he needed to get ready, so Harry spent the time in the common room, alternating between arguing with the Order or chatting with the other boys who felt three and something hours was a bit more than they required. Finally, an hour before he and Ron had agreed to meet with Ginny and Hermione, he made his way upstairs to make himself presentable.
He spent half an hour in the shower, standing under a powerful jet of scalding water, letting the water play on his back and shoulders. One of the benefits of being a Prefect was access to the Prefect's Bathroom, but Harry seldom used that except for when the desire stuck him to have a long, relaxing soak in the gigantic bath. But here in the Gryffindor Tower, a piping hot shower was the very next best thing.
Finally Harry emerged from the steaming bathroom and began to dress. After pulling on a pair of black trousers, he briefly considered wearing the dragon hide boots Sirius and Remus had got for him, but decided to wear the plain black shoes he had planned to. Then he slid a crisp and neatly pressed collared shirt on. It appeared white at first glance, but was actually a very light shade of green. Lastly Harry turned to his dress robes.
As with the previous year Harry would be wearing green robes, but this time the material was a darker green, so dark as to be almost black when seen in dim lighting. Only the lining was the same bottle green from before and even that was accented by a cut of emerald green at the neck and cuffs.
He found it both amusing and frustrating the not even the nearly unmatchable power of the Order could tame the unruly mop topping his head. Only at the sides, where the hair was cropped close to his head did something approaching neatness reign. Otherwise, after a dozen charms and spell, Harry settled for the usual organised chaos that he had inherited from his father.
*All-in-all you look dashing, Harry.*
Thanks, Isis. Fortunately so does Ron.
Harry appraised his best friend, with whom he had finally buried their most recent hatchet, and smiled at the sight. True to their word Fred and George had purchased their younger brother a set of new dress robes, and Harry had to admit, the twins (despite their idiosyncrasies) had made a find choice for him.
The cut was exceptional, but not grossly expensive, in a fashionably modern style. Not anywhere could even a hint of lace or ruffles be seen. Most importantly was the fact that the robes were not maroon, nor even the threatened green and lilac. Instead Ron was dressed in a mix of royal and navy blue, that complemented his eyes and moreover his hair very nicely.
Definitely an improvement, not that that is difficult, Harry mused as he, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville made their way back down to the common room. It was only Ron, Seamus and himself that were waiting there for their partners; Dean and Neville would be meeting theirs in the Entrance Hall just before the Ball began.
They, along with most of the fourth, sixth and seventh-year boys, had been waiting in the common room for several minutes when Harry's head turned to the stairs.
*Your date will be here soon.*
I've been meaning to ask about that. How'd you lot always seem to know what Ginny's doing?
*Ever since you shared the power with her there's been a bond between her and the Order.*
Harry suppressed a puzzled frown, She can hear you as well?
*No, not really. Not until she accesses the power fully, and in large amounts.*
*Right now she can only sometimes pick up on us. It's like listening to a conversation in the room next door. She thinks we're figments of her own imagination.*
He nodded his understanding and drew the attention of the other boys. "They're coming down."
Ron looked at him in surprise. "How can you tell?"
"I use my own special technique," Harry answered wryly. After all, it certainly was special, but who would believe him if he ever revealed it? The voices in his head told him? Right. He would be in a padded cell at St. Mungo's before the night was out.
"Oh? What is it?" asked Dean, curiously.
"I keep my eyes and ears open, and my mouth shut..." Harry tapered off abruptly as two visions of beauty made their way gracefully down the stairs leading down from the girls' dormitories.
Once again Hermione had pulled off an amazing transformation and was looking quite beautiful, Harry had to admit. Her normally bushy hair framed her face in sleek and shiny hazel ringlets, just a hint of makeup was applied to bring out her eyes and accentuate her full lips. Her robes were a deep violet and indigo. She looked every bit as wonderful as she had at the previous Yule Ball.
Harry scarcely noticed, his attention was so fully focused elsewhere.
She looked radiant, simply radiant. There was no other way to describe it, he thought. All that was missing were the wings and a halo and then Harry would be standing in the presence of an angel.
Some say the word will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire...
Harry whispered it, the words inaudible to everyone but himself, as he stared where Ginny was standing, waiting beside Hermione, at the foot of the stairs. He could not remember where he had heard or read the poem, it had probably been when he had attended Muggle school in Little Whinging. Somehow it seemed eminently appropriate when looking at his friend.
Ginny had swept her hair up into an elegant French twist, exposing the creamy curve of her neck. The cream and silver robes Fred and George had procured her seemed to float around her slender frame, yet also hug her figure in all the right places. Like Hermione she was wearing just enough makeup to enhance her features, especially the warm brown of her chocolate coloured eyes.
"Well?" the two girls chimed, making Harry realize that both he and Ron had being gaping for nearly a minute without saying a word (muttered poetry aside).
"I have never seen anything more beautiful," he told them, stepping up to Ginny and hoping that he wasn't blushing too brightly.
Ginny ducked her head at his praise and, after a moment spent fighting down her own pleased blush, looked at him with wide eyes and asked impishly, "I believe you have something to give me?"
Harry grinned. "Indeed I do, Milady." He reached into his robes and withdrew the small, velvet-lined box he was carrying. With a flourish he flipped the box open, using a little magic and slight of hand to return the empty box to his pocket, and held his gift up for her to examine.
"Harry..." she breathed, sounding even more awestruck and touched than when she had opened the earlier gift and found the broom he had built.
Stepping behind her, Harry slipped the necklace in place around her neck and fastened the clasp, returning after he was done. The fine silver links that made the thin chain matched her robes perfectly and the seven rubies, cut like raindrops, seemed to glow with the same fiery red of her hair.
"Harry," Ginny tried to speak, the faintest tones of protest in her voice. Harry reached up and placed a finger on her lips to shush her. Once she was quiet he gently took her hand and bowed, only just brushing his lips against her warm flesh. Even this barely made contact burnt like fire, and Harry was glad he had opted to be a gentleman and kiss her hand, he would surely have combusted spontaneously from anything more.
Standing up straight and releasing his hold Harry smiled shyly at her. "May I have the honour of escorting you to the ball, Milady?"
Ginny fairly glowed with pleasure as she linked her arm with his. "With pleasure, Milord."
***
Hermione was pleased with the attention she and Ron garnered as they entered the Great Hall, her arm resting lightly in the crook of his elbow as he led her to their table. She was also a bit relieved to note that Harry and Ginny were definitely attracting a fair bit more attention than she and Ron. This was fine by Hermione, especially after the Yule Ball last year, when she had gone with Viktor Krum. The attention had felt nice then, but she still felt uncomfortable under so much scrutiny.
She could not help but smirk slightly as they passed by Malfoy and his date, Pansy again. Ever since Slytherin's shocking defeat at the hands of Gryffindor's reserve team, Malfoy had gone out of his way to steer clear of Harry and his friends. Hermione wondered if it was because of his week long stay in the Hospital Wing following the match, or the thoroughly insulting Howler his father Lucius had sent him after Draco was forced to request a replacement broom.
As Malfoy made an obvious attempt to surreptitiously get out of their way, Ron leaned close to her and muttered, "How I wish he was like this all the time."
Unfortunately I doubt it will last.
Hermione nodded her agreement and, looking around the room to admire the decorations, suddenly came to an abrupt halt. They had spent a short time in the Entrance Hall, talking, and had lost track of their fellow Gryffindors in the process. Hermione had just located their fellow fifth years, who were motioning them to join them at a nearby table. But that was not what brought her to a standstill.
It was Neville and, holding his arm... Cho Chang?
"O-kay..." said Ron, spotting them, "now I've seen everything."
"He did say it would be a surprise," agreed Harry, "and it is."
"I hope Cho's wearing steel capped shoes," commented Ginny, obviously recalling her attempts at dancing with Neville the previous year.
The quartet made their way over to the table and exchanged greetings and a few pleasantries before taking their seats. Hermione was pleased, and flattered, when Ron pulled her chair out for her. She glanced at Harry, who was doing the same for Ginny, who grinned and winked at her. Seating herself, Hermione thanked Ron as he sat down beside her, Harry on her other side and then Ginny.
Next to Ron sat Cho and then Neville, who seemed quite tongue-tied in the presence of the pretty Ravenclaw Seeker. Hermione wondered briefly how he had managed to stay coherent long enough to ask her to the dance. Next were Seamus and his date Moira, who was the only second-year present and the youngest person at the Ball. Apparently the pair had hit off quite well during Quidditch practice. The last couple, before coming back to Ginny and Harry, were Lillian Jordon, from Hufflepuff and Bill Renault, one of Cho's Ravenclaw friends.
A white flash and a loud click jolted everyone's attention to one side, where Colin Creevey was standing, faithful camera in hand. His date for the evening, a Hufflepuff girl of the same year, appeared to be supplicating the heavens and mouthing, "Why me?"
"Hey, Harry!" he exclaimed, before being dragged off. "Looking spiffy!"
"I have never in my life," observed Harry after Colin was well gone, "been so tempted as I am whenever that boy is down on stage during PFT."
Everyone chuckled and began commenting on Harry's status as the school celebrity. Opinions were varied and ranged from envy to commiseration. Hermione was pleased to note that Ron seemed a bit uncomfortable with the topic and was remaining firmly silent.
Maybe he's finally starting to learn.
"Excuse me, Ginny," asked Cho, pulling away from the topic of Harry's reluctant fame, "but that necklace you're wearing..."
Ginny fingered the gift and smiled. "Harry gave it to me for Christmas."
"It's beautiful," agreed Lillian, pushing her glasses up and leaning forward for a better look. She turned to Harry and asked, "Where did you buy it?"
Harry smiled shyly and blushed. Hermione couldn't help but smile at her friend's embarrassment. Even after everything that had happened over the years, Harry still felt uncomfortable whenever thrust into the limelight.
"I didn't buy it," he told Lillian, looking at Ginny with a surprisingly tender expression.
He loves her, realized Hermione, even if he doesn't know it yet.
A moment later what Harry had just said registered and Hermione found herself gaping at him, her mouth falling slightly open.
Sweet Merlin. He made it.
Harry was saved from having to answer any further questions by Dumbledore, who gently tapped his knife against the crystal goblet set out before him. After the all students and teachers had quieted down and sat waiting for him to speak, Dumbledore stood up and spoke softly.
"First things first, but not necessarily in that order," he said, blue eyes sparkling merrily over the tops of his half-moon glasses. "Let the feast begin!"
As the headmaster sat down everyone picked up the small, neatly printed menus that were resting on their plates. Glancing over the selection, Hermione finally settled on the Trout Amandine with pineapple and orange. To drink she asked for fresh pineapple juice, since no alcoholic beverages were available and, she had to admit, pumpkin juice got tiresome after a while.
Waiting for her dinner to arrive--it only took five or so seconds anyway--Hermione watched as Ron, who had ordered before anyone else, tucked in. Fortunately his behaviour this evening seemed not only more mature, but also more refined, as he restrained himself from attacking his food as he usually did. Still, Hermione had no doubt that he would finish two helpings before she was done with her own.
Taking her pineapple juice in hand--she secretly loved the stuff--Hermione brought the goblet to her lips and took a small sip.
Huh?
Hermione looked at the clear crystal goblet in consternation. It looked like pineapple juice. She lifted it to her nose and took a whiff. It even smelled like pineapple juice.
Then why does it taste like a bubblegum milkshake?
"Wha' th' hell?" asked Ron, looking down at his plate of food, a scowl on his face.
"What's the matter, Ron?" she asked, distractedly, still contemplating her drink.
"My dinner," explained Ron, waving a hand at his food, "it tastes like lamb chops."
Ginny looked at her brother as if he were slightly mad. "So what's wrong with that?"
Ron frowned across the table at her and protested, "It's supposed to be fried sea bass!"
"Somehow, I find that a relief," commented Harry, holding his goblet of deep red juice up for inspection, also frowning. "It might explain why my apple juice tastes like coffee."
Everyone's attention suddenly focused on Seamus, who was making strange gasping noises and was so red in the face he almost matched Ron's hair. Wheezing and waving his one hand before his wide open mouth, Seamus reached for his goblet of bright orange pumpkin juice and downed the entire drink in a single long gulp. For a moment he sighed with relief and then suddenly his eyes bulged outwards and a horrified expression contorted his face.
"Seamus?" asked Moira, worriedly.
"The carrots," explained Seamus in a gasp, not really clearing up the matter. "Don't touch the carrots. They're hot - like pepper! And the pumpkin juice... it was asparagus!"
Neville was prodding his meal cautiously with his fork. "The rice tastes like clams."
Across from him, Bill shook his head. "No, the rice tastes like eggs."
Something very strange is going on here, Hermione thought, looking down at her trout.
Beside her, she was aware of Harry and Ginny exchanging a look of sudden understanding. The pair both sank back in their chair, sighing and shaking their heads. Everyone looked at them, since they obviously had an explanation for this puzzling occurrence.
"Fred and George," said Harry.
"They're screwing with us," confirmed Ginny.
Cho nodded her agreement. "I think you're right. They seem to be looking over at our table quite a bit. I was wondering why."
Moira looked at the plate before her and then pushed it away, "Y'muin t' sai thae th' tui o' 'im hae hexed th' bluddie food? Lie befuir th' Quidditch game?"
Harry shook his head, frowning slightly. "No, I can't see or feel any magic on the food or the drinks. Whatever they're doing, it's not being done to the food."
Hermione contemplated the table, everyone knew by now that Harry seemed able to pick up on any spells that had been cast. How he could do this was still a mystery, but if he said that the food was untainted, she was inclined to believe him. So then, if whatever was affecting them was not part of the meal...
"The flower arrangement," she said. "Why are all the flowers white or pink and only that one is yellow?"
"None of the other tables have any yellow flowers," observed Ron, craning his head around.
Harry plucked the offending flower from the arrangement, looking it over and shaking his head. He handed it to Ginny, who also examined it. "A Switching Spell," the red head said, handing it back to Harry, who pulled out his wand.
How does she know that?
"With some Confusion and Sensorium Charms mixed in," agreed Harry, waving his wand over the flower and then returning it to its place in the arrangement. "Simple really."
"But effective," summed up Bill. "You eat the rice, which is perfectly fine, but the charms mix up the signals your taste buds send to your brain, making you think it tastes like eggs."
"Or red pepper," muttered Seamus, glaring at the table where the twins were sitting.
"Those buggers!" exclaimed Ron, joining Seamus in glaring at his brothers.
Hermione put a hand on his arm to calm him, noting that Harry had a wicked gleam in his eyes as he leaned forward to ask something. "Cho, Neville, do either of you have your wand?"
Neville shook his head, but Cho nodded sharply. "Never leave the dormitory without it."
Harry smiled. "Can you get a clear shot at the twins?" She nodded. "Excellent, I have something that will make this morning's clown escapades look like the work of an amateur."
"What do you have in mind?" Hermione asked as Cho drew her wand and surreptitiously aimed it in the direction of the twins, causing Lillian and Bill to lean cautiously out of the way.
"You ever played snooker, Hermione?" replied Harry, aiming his own wand at Cho's. "I'm going to bounce my spell off Cho's wand, just like sinking the eight ball."
There was a brief shimmer in the air around both wands and then Harry returned his inside his robes, Cho however was gaping with wide eyes and an open mouth. Everyone turned as a series of giggles broke out from around the hall as people began pointing towards the twins.
"Oh my god," choked Hermione, unable to believe what she saw.
Fred and George were sitting at the table across from them, talking with their dates, Angelina and Katie. Completely, totally and utterly oblivious to the fact that they were clad in nothing save their boxers.
***
Ron watched as Fred and George swung by Hermione and him as they danced to a slow ballad, the invisibility charm Harry had cast on their robes finally worn off. He sighed, both from the memory of their reactions when they finally noticed their apparent lack of apparel and from disappointment that the spell had only lasted half on hour.
Ah, if only I had a picture of it.
"Don't worry," said Hermione, obviously reading his thoughts, "I'm sure Colin must have taken a dozen or more photographs of them."
He grinned gleefully at the thought and turned his attention back to his dance partner, whom he was holding closely as they slowly swayed back and forth. He had never been so relieved to have good dress robes as he had been when Hermione, and his sister, had come down from their dormitory that evening. He would have to remember to thank the twins later, but only after teasing them for a while about Harry's retaliatory shot.
As the two of them moved around he spotted Harry and Ginny dancing nearby, holding each other in their arms even more closely than he was holding Hermione. The two couples drew closer, and Ron could hear a snippet of their conversation as they passed each other.
"You're a very good dancer," he heard Ginny saying.
"Really?" Harry sounded pleased.
Ginny grinned mischievously, "No. But you're better than Neville."
Grinning as well, Ron looked at Hermione, who had also caught the exchange. They smiled and Ron asked in a teasing tone, "What about me? Am I a good dancer?"
Hermione nodded. "Not bad. From the look of it, better than Harry."
"What about Viktor?" he asked, suddenly curious as to how he stood up against the only other man Hermione had ever danced with. He was quite surprised when Hermione jerked away from him, an angry look on her face.
"You just had to bring that up? Didn't you?" she accused, hands on hips. "Ron Weasley, you are such a jealous prat!"
Ron watched in amazement and disbelief as his date for the evening turned on a heel, violet and indigo robes swirling behind her. He shook his head as Hermione stalked off, looking to see that Harry and Ginny had stopped dancing and were standing nearby, watching.
"She's nuts!" he declared, suddenly feeling frustrated. "Completely off her rocker! Is mental illness contagious?"
Harry looked at him and sighed. "You have problems."
"I'm aware of that," he said, "but so does she."
"Of course she does," agreed Ginny, "After all, she's attracted to you, isn't she?"
***
Ginny watched as her brother stalked off the dance floor in pursuit of Hermione, who had gone to one of the buffet tables to find herself a drink. Chuckling at Ron's antics, she shook her head and smiled up at Harry, who seemed equally amused.
"May I have this dance, Milady?" he asked, bowing and taking her hand in his.
"Don't you want to see how it will turn out?" she asked, motioning to where Ron was approaching Hermione.
Harry smiled and gently pulled her close to him, slipping a hand around her waist and beginning to dance. "I already know."
They danced through the current song and, without stopping, continued into the next one, holding each other close and maintaining eye contact the entire time. Ginny could look into Harry's eyes forever, they were so bottomless. Yet, despite the feeling that she could easily find herself lost in those eyes, she was never afraid.
Near the end of that dance, only a few minutes before midnight, Ginny spotted Ron and Hermione coming back out onto the floor, arm in arm. They were both grinning stupidly as they assumed a position and began to sweep across the room.
"Told you," whispered Harry in her ear.
"I guess you did," she agreed, looking up and finding his face close to hers.
So very close.
Her face and body felt like they were on fire and without realizing it Ginny pressed herself closer to him as they continued dancing. Harry tilted his head to one side and slowly leaning in to her, his eyes never leaving hers.
Oh, sweet Merlin, she realized, He's going to kiss me.
Their faces were less than an inch away, their lips practically touching. Ginny could almost already feel his lips against hers. Just as his lips brushed, feather light, against her, Harry jerked back, the blood visibly draining from his face.
"Aaargh!" he cried, dropping to his knees, "No! Dammit, no!"
Ginny suddenly felt her heart stop as she saw that Harry was pressing the palm of his hand hard against his forehead. His scar, something was clearly wrong with his scar. Before she could move to help him or anything else, the floor began to shake and tremble slightly, the cutlery on the tables rattling as all activity in the room came to an abrupt halt.
What's happening to him?
*You have to ask?*
For a moment Ginny thought that whatever was happening to Harry was causing him to create the sudden vibrations, much like what had happened at Halloween. But when the entire Great Hall gave a violent shudder, she realized that whatever was happening was too widespread to be something Harry was causing. There was something about the shaking, which had now stopped, that made Ginny pause. It had felt like how she imagined an earthquake would feel.
*Not an earthquake. An explosion. A big one.*
A deep, but hollow sounding, rumble seemed to seep its way into the hall, as Harry grit his teeth against a scream that threatening to escape him. Everyone was looking around nervously, although Ginny couldn't help but notice that Malfoy was suddenly looking more smug than he had in weeks.
*The village. Hogwarts' protective wards don't extend that far.*
"Hogsmeade!" exclaimed Harry, struggling to his feet, "Voldemort's attacking Hogsmeade!"
Noisy chatter exploded throughout the hall as everyone began talking excitedly. Dumbledore and several teachers were making their way to where she and Harry were standing, looks of concern on their face. Before they could reach them, however, Harry jolted into motion and fled the Great Hall at a full-on run. Ginny immediately followed him, accompanied by almost everybody in a rush into the Entrance Hall, through the front doors and outside.
As the students stepped out onto the front lawn they drew to a horrified halt. Down, past the lake, and in the valley, the village of Hogsmeade was burning. Billowing columns of smoke rose into the night sky, illuminated from below by the orange glow of raging fire. And worst of all, hanging high above them, glowing and sparkling where they hung, a dozen Dark Marks.
Oh no. It's started.
Ginny, with Ron and Hermione right behind her, quickly found Harry. He was standing there and watching the devastation with a look on his face that Ginny prayed would never be turned on her. It was cold and hard, the expression of a dangerous man becoming angry.
"I've got to get down there," he said, stepping forward.
"Harry, you can't!" protested Hermione, reaching out to grab him by the arm.
"I have too!" Harry pulled free of her. "Dammit, don't you understand? People are dying!"
Dumbledore swept up from behind them, his face grave. McGonagall, Snape and Lupin stood beside him as he spoke. "It will take too long a time for you to get there, Harry. By the time you do, it will already be over."
"Then I'll set a speed record!"
That said, Harry did the impossible and Disapparated away from Hogwarts.
TBC...