Author's Note: Sorry about the cliffhanger last time everyone…I know that was a horrible way to leave you all hanging when I didn't know how long it would take for this chapter to come out. I want to thank you all for your patience and I beg for you all to give me some more of that over the upcoming months. College is a busy time, as those who are in college right now know. Big thanks to Nitya and Kalie for betaing this chapter for me…gotta love those two. *huggles* Anyway, I won't keep you all waiting any longer. Go ahead and find out what happened to Harry.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE QUEST FOR UNITY
Eight days later, Harry's eyes fluttered open and he found himself looking up at a blurry form with a mass of bushy brown hair.
"Hermione?" he croaked.
"Oh, thank God!" she sighed in relief. "You're awake!"
He blinked, wondering why everything was so out of focus, when he realized he wasn't wearing his glasses. "Er…"
"Here," Hermione said, holding out a black blur that Harry recognized to be his glasses.
He accepted them gratefully and put them on. "Thanks," he murmured and looked around. He was in the hospital wing, completely alone except for Hermione, who was sitting on the edge of his bed looking rather anxious. "Er-what happened? What was that thing that passed through me?"
Before she could answer, Ron entered carrying a stack of sandwiches. "This is all I could nick from the kitchens…" he trailed off as his eyes rested on Harry and his face broke out into a grin. "Hey, you're awake!"
"Yeah," he murmured as Ron handed Hermione over a sandwich. "Did you two miss dinner or something?"
"Have been for the last eight days," Ron replied, settling down into a chair next to Harry's bed before taking a bite of the sandwich he brought himself. "Hermione absolutely refused to leave your bedside for anything except for class. Madam Pomfrey thinks she's nutty." Hermione looked down at her sandwich and turned a bright red while Ron continued. "I've been here most of the time too, although I ran a practice on Friday. At first we didn't know if we should because you were gone and all, but I figured you'd want us to still practice. Ginny and Katie thought so too, so…" He shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm glad you did," Harry replied and eyed one of the sandwiches. He was terribly hungry-who wouldn't be, after eight days?
"Here, Harry," Hermione said, handing him a sandwich. "You must be hungry."
"Thanks," he murmured and took a bite, savoring it. "So, what was that thing?" he asked again after he swallowed.
Hermione looked grim. "It's called a Soul Reaper-powerful dark magic; very ancient too. It hasn't been seen since the defeat of Grindelwald, and very few know the counter curse. The only reason why you're alive, Harry, is because Dumbledore is one of the few people who do know, which is no surprise because he defeated Grindelwald, didn't he? He made sure you landed safely on the ground and then performed probably the most complicated spell I've ever seen-"
"-this weird purple light covered you when he did-"
"-and then Dumbledore conjured up a stretcher, assuring Ron and I that you were going to be alright," Hermione finished.
Harry stared at both of them. "And what does a Soul Reaper actually do?" he asked.
Hermione stared down at her feet. "It takes away your soul," she whispered. "You aren't alive and yet you aren't dead. It's like you're trapped in limbo for eternity."
Ron shuddered. "I think I'd rather have the Killing Curse performed on me than that."
"Harry, we heard Dumbledore speaking to McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape. He wondered if you had seen anything the night before the Quidditch match. Did you have any dreams…about Voldemort?" Hermione asked and Ron shuddered again.
Harry shook his head. "No, I didn't."
Hermione frowned. "Who did this to you, Harry?"
Harry sighed and frowned too. "I don't know, but ten Galleons says that whoever sent that Soul Reaper after me also killed June Winters."
*****
Madam Pomfrey kicked Ron and Hermione out an hour later, which was fine because they both looked rather weary. Apparently, they had stayed very late every night in the hospital wing and returned at the earliest hour possible. Harry couldn't help but smile at their devotion.
Now Harry laid alone in the hospital wing, thinking about the events eight days prior. Ron had assured Harry that right after the Soul Reaper passed through him, Madam Hooch finally noticed he had caught the Snitch and ended the match, Gryffindor winning 180 to 50.
But that was not what plagued his mind the most. He wanted to know who could have possibly conjured up such a dark force without Dumbledore knowing. Was the Headmaster and possibly the greatest wizard in the world losing his touch? Or was the attacker that clever and sneaky?
Who could it possibly be? That thought echoed in his head until he fell asleep…
He was running down a corridor, a corridor in the dungeons he recognized, and he was being chased. Sparing a glance behind him, he saw it was a dementor. Quickly as he could, he fumbled around in his robes, searching for his wand. When he found it, he turned and faced the dementor, shouting, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" but it had no effect.
Terrified, Harry turn and ran again. As it charged for him, he dived and rolled on the floor, dodging it. Suddenly, the dementor changed shape and it turned into Sirius. He looked down at Harry and smiled. "Up you get now, Harry. There's nothing to be afraid of," he said, striding over to where Harry laid sprawled on the floor. He held out his hand to help him up with a smile, and that was when Harry noticed his eyes, his bright red eyes.
"No!" Harry cried and jumped up, running. But suddenly he found himself face-to-face with his mother and father, who were also smiling.
"Don't be afraid, Harry," his father said and his eyes flashed red momentarily.
Harry backed away, shaking his head. "Y-you're not my father!" he yelled and felt himself hit something hard. Turning around, he saw Sirius, who grabbed him around the waist.
"Harry," his mother said gently, walking forward, "it's okay. You don't need to be afraid of death." Her eyes turned from their bright green to red. "After all, you'll be with us, the people you killed."
Sirius slammed Harry against a wall and released him, his wand pointed at him. James and Lily followed suit.
"You'll be with us for eternity," James said. "And we can remind you every day how we died."
Sirius smirked and waved his wand. "Avada Kedavra!" But instead of green light pouring from the tip of his wand, the bright light of the Soul Reaper appeared and swallowed him whole…
Harry awoke and sat straight up, a cold sweat covering him. It's just a dream…it's just a dream…he told himself over and over again. It was just all of his previous nightmares about his parents and Sirius coming back to haunt him, mixed in with his new anxiety concerning the Soul Reaper, that was all. He shouldn't worry about it.
And I won't, he thought, taking a steadying breath. He grabbed a glass of water off the nightstand by his bed and drank it dry. Then, lying back, he closed his eyes, although sleep would not find him until long after.
*****
The next morning, Madam Pomfrey released him, as he was feeling absolutely fine. He changed into a set of school robes Ron had brought down for him and headed off to the Great Hall for the last ten minutes of breakfast.
Ron and Hermione were talking quietly when Harry reached the table. "Hey," he said, "what's up?"
"Nothing," Ron muttered, looking very annoyed.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "We have a prefect meeting on the third. Ron here was just expressing his displeasure."
"It's a Monday night," Ron complained. "Who wants to do anything on a Monday night?"
"Ron, grow up and act responsible for a change!" Hermione snapped and got up, leaving Harry and Ron behind, gaping at her.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry wondered.
"Dunno. Maybe it's that time of the month," Ron replied.
"Or maybe you're acting like a great prat," Ginny said, sliding down and taking Hermione's seat. "She's right, y'know; griping just because you've got a meeting on a Monday. Just be grateful it's not a night when we have Quidditch practice, although I'm starting to think that's a bad idea."
"Why?" Harry asked.
Ginny have him a patient look. "Well, as you've been out for over a week, you've no idea how cold it is outside. It's frigid, and it's only the end of November! Saturday poor Alex couldn't feel his toes after practice. I think it's time to let it go until January at least. Besides, Christmas is coming."
Ron stared at her in disbelief. "Have you gone mad? We've got to practice or else we'll get rusty."
"Ron, you do realize that you sound as obsessed as that bloke Wood, right?" Ginny said with a smirk.
"Tomorrow," Harry said, finishing off his meal. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. If it's bad, we'll wait out the cold weather, deal?"
Ginny nodded and smiled. "See," she said to Ron, "now that's a captain right there."
Ron scowled as she got up and left. "She's on her high-horse now," he muttered and looked down at his watch. "Come on, Harry, let's get to class."
*****
Later on, after dinner, he walked slowly up to Dumbledore's office. Granted, he was a week late, but that couldn't be helped considering he had been unconscious. So one week later, he gave the password to the stone gargoyle and let the spiral staircase take him up to the door to Dumbledore's office. He knocked quietly.
"Come in, Harry," came Dumbledore's voice from beyond the door.
Harry walked in and noticed all of the portraits on the wall immediately close their eyes and begin to feign sleep. Harry shook his head bemusedly and walked up to Dumbledore's desk. "I'm-er-here for my lessons," he said lamely.
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, I figured you might be and I am very pleased about that. I know how much you dislike Occlumency."
Harry frowned. "To be frank, Professor, it was the teacher I disliked more than anything."
He chuckled softly. "Yes. Please forgive me for having Professor Snape teach you last year. It was a rather ill conceived thought in a year filled with many mistakes. Hopefully those days are behind us."
"Just don't make me go back to Professor Snape and all is forgiven," he said with a smirk.
Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Deal," he said. "And now, to work." He walked in front of his desk and in front of Harry. "Remember," he said, "clear away any emotions you have and relax."
Harry tried his best to relax and to let all of his emotions-his anxiety-melt away into utter calm. He sighed and looked back up at Dumbledore.
"Ready?" Harry nodded. "Very well, on the count of three….one-two-three-Legilimens!"
Dumbledore's office swam in front of his eyes and vanished as image after image raced through his mind; he was crossing the lake before entering Hogwarts for the first time…playing wizard's chess with Ron in the common room…Hermione giving him a kiss on the cheek at the end of their fourth year…Sirius falling back through the veil…
"NO!" he screamed as he fell to the floor.
"It's alright Harry," Dumbledore said, grabbing Harry by the elbow and pulling him back up. "You appear to be out of practice."
Harry frowned. "I never had much to begin with," he said darkly.
Dumbledore frowned too. "Let us try again, shall we?"
Harry nodded and readied himself, taking a deep breath and trying to purge all of the emotions from himself.
"Very well then….one-two-three-Legilimens!" Dumbledore said.
He was in his first Quidditch match, chasing after the Snitch…he was on his disastrous date with Cho Chang on Valentine's Day the year before…he was on the train, fighting with Malfoy, grabbing what he believed to be Malfoy's wand…
"Expelliarmus!" he shouted and suddenly he was free. Dumbledore's wand clattered to the floor.
"Very good, Harry, very good," he said with a smile. "And I see what you mean about being able to do magic without a wand preciously when saying the incantation to a spell. This is a very interesting development indeed."
"Why?" Harry asked. "Why can I do it?"
Dumbledore turned and paced for a few moments, deep in thought. Then he turned back to Harry and said, "I have a hypothesis, Harry. When Voldemort tried to kill you and he transferred some of his powers to you, such as the ability to speak Parseltongue, he must have advanced your magical capabilities. You are most definitely not an ordinary wizard, Harry."
"Does Voldemort have these powers too?" Harry asked.
"No, he does not, which makes my hypothesis highly unbelievable. Including you now, there have been only three wizards in this century alone who have had those particular abilities-true sorcery," Dumbledore explained.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Besides yourself, they would be the dark wizard Grindelwald and…myself."
"You?"
"Yes," he replied, a bemused look in his eyes.
"Wow."
Dumbledore chuckled. "It is not a common gift. Most wizards need a catalyst for their magic, thus the wand. But true sorcerers do not. They can command magic at their will."
"So you mean I can perform any spell I want by just saying the incantation?"
Dumbledore smiled. "With time and training, you won't need to say anything at all."
*****
After the lesson, Harry walked back up towards the common room, his mind racing. He had powers, powers that Voldemort did not have. Suddenly a voice echoed though his mind.
"But he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…"
Was this it? Was this really the power that Voldemort knew not of? Harry couldn't believe it. He was so absorbed in whether or not it could be true that he walked right into Professor Lupin.
"Careful, Harry," Lupin said.
"Sorry, Professor," Harry muttered sheepishly.
He grinned. "What has you so preoccupied?"
"Er-my Occlumency lesson with Professor Dumbledore," Harry replied.
"Ah," Lupin murmured with a nod. "Be vigilant with that, okay Harry? It will be good for us all in the end."
Harry frowned and he suddenly thought of something. "Professor, does The Phoenix mean anything to you?"
The grin on Lupin's face disappeared. "The Phoenix? How did you find out about-"
"I found the blueprints in Sirius's vault awhile ago," Harry told him. "Was it the Marauders' next great feat?"
Lupin studied him closely. "Yes, it was. We started it about two months before your mother and father went into hiding with you. James and Sirius were in charge of drafting up the blueprints and I was in charge of researching all of the spells required for it. Peter would be our gopher. Harry-you're not planning on making it, are you?"
"I don't know," Harry said, not meeting Lupin's eyes.
"It's dangerous Harry," Lupin said. "The spells alone are very dodgy."
"So?" Harry said. "I think my dad would be proud if I made that boom, as would Sirius."
"Sirius was always rather reckless," Lupin interjected.
"And I'm sure back then you were just as reckless," Harry snapped back before he could stop himself.
Lupin sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But Harry, as a teacher I cannot condone this course of action."
"Then as a friend of not only Sirius and my dad, but me too, and as a Marauder, help me, please," Harry beseeched.
Lupin looked away, deep in thought. He paced for a few moments and then, turning back to Harry, he said, "Well, I reckon no one would know, right?"
Harry nodded. "If I'm caught I will deny your involvement."
Lupin chuckled. "You're James Potter's son! You won't be caught. I will have the list of spells for you at the end of class on Friday."
Harry grinned. "Thank you, Professor!"
"Now go, before Filch catches you for something," Lupin said with a grin, walking off in the opposite direction.
*****
The next afternoon found the Gryffindor team out on the pitch in the freezing cold weather. Harry shivered as he flew around on his Firebolt, watching the rest of the team as they practiced. When Ginny dropped the Quaffle, he shook his head and flew down to the Chasers.
"What's wrong?" he asked them.
"My fingers are frozen," Ginny said.
"I think my ears are frostbitten," Katie said, touching them gingerly.
Harry turned to the youngest of them all. "How about you, Hunter?"
"Honestly Harry, I can't feel my arse," he said and all of them chuckled.
"Alright, fine. That's enough." He turned and motioned for Ron and the Beaters to join them as they all flew towards the ground.
"What's up?" Ron asked anxiously.
"I'm not going to have you all turn into ice cubes," Harry said. "We're done for today-back to the locker rooms."
"What!" Ron exclaimed as the others gratefully walked off. "Harry, have you gone mad?"
"We can't practice under these conditions, Ron," Harry said. "Come on, let's go change and warm up by the common room fire."
"But...but…but…" He slumped his shoulders and followed after the rest of the team.
Once in the common room, however, Ron slouched down into a chair and stared at Harry for a few moments before saying, "We didn't have to quit. Everyone was fine."
"No they weren't," Harry said. "Your own sister couldn't feel her fingers. I bet anything that if she goes down to the hospital wing she'll receive some Pepper-Up Potion."
"She's a tough girl," Ron murmured.
"Katie was frostbitten!" Harry exclaimed. "Will you stop worrying about the damn Cup and worry more about your teammates?"
Ron glared at him. "I do care about them, but I also care about the glory of Gryffindor."
"More the glory of yourself," Harry muttered without realizing it.
Ron's ears turned a bright red. "Me? The Quidditch team isn't about me! It's about you, the star Seeker. That's why you're captain."
"I am not the captain because I'm famous," Harry said furiously. "I don't even like the fame, you know that!"
"I'm surprised you aren't a prefect, considering Dumbledore," Ron said, his entire face red now.
"I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!" Harry bellowed and then realized what he had just said.
The color drained out of Ron's cheeks. "What?" he croaked.
"Nothing," Harry murmured and turned, heading to the portrait hole and out, needing to leave.
He walked around in the corridors, furious with Ron and with himself. Ron was turning into a fanatic and he was sick of it. But he knew that he shouldn't have said the things he did. He didn't want Ron to know that he, Harry, had been Dumbledore's first choice for prefect. It would take away the light from Ron on the only thing he was that Harry was not.
Harry kicked the wall, hard. How could he have been so stupid as to blurt that out? He gritted his teeth and growled in frustration. He needed someplace quiet so he could be alone, but where?
He continued to walk, wondering where he could find a room that would give him some solitude. And suddenly, just as he passed the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, a door appeared on the opposite wall. He stared at it blankly for a moment before realization dawned on him; he had just summoned the Room of Requirement.
Stepping forward, he cautiously opened the door and peered inside. It was a small room this time around, with a winged armchair and a fire crackling merrily in the fireplace. Harry entered and sat down gratefully, letting the events of the past couple of days sink in. And he stayed there like that for hours.
*****
Harry and Ron didn't speak often to each other over the next few days. Hermione was simply furious with both of them, calling their silence immaturity and their differences petty. Harry knew that she was right and that he ought to apologize to Ron about the argument, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, because he didn't want to have to face the fact that Ron knew that Dumbledore had preferred Harry over Ron for the position of prefect.
After a particularly interesting Dark Arts class involving an occamy on Friday, Harry hung back after class, telling Ron and Hermione that he would catch up later, and waited for Professor Lupin.
Lupin emerged from his office with a slip of parchment in his hand. "Here it is, Harry," he said, handing the slip over. "I even did a little more research and found a better Braking Charm, like the one on your Firebolt. And I also wrote down how to enhance the Acceleration Charm. I don't know what you'll manage to make the top speed on it, but Sirius, James, and I believed that at the time, it would be as fast as what the Nimbus Two-Thousand and Ones are. Perhaps with that enhancement it will match your Firebolt's."
"Great," Harry said, glancing down at the list. "Thank you, Professor."
"You're welcome, but do you even know where you're going to build this thing?" Lupin asked.
Harry had already thought of this and only one place seemed appropriate to him. "Yes, sir; I have an idea."
Lupin nodded. "Good. Well, best of luck to you then, Harry."
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Harry?" He turned back to look at Professor Lupin. "You'll let me have a go on it when you're done, right?"
He grinned. "Absolutely, Professor."
*****
The weekend came and went and on Monday evening, Ron and Hermione went off to their prefects' meeting. As Ron passed him on his way out, he gave Harry a rather furtive look before pushing open the portrait and waiting for Hermione.
"We'll see you soon, Harry," she told him, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze and then following Ron out.
Suddenly, Hunter, Dylan Brown, and Ally Warrick plopped down next to Harry on the sofa he was sitting on. "Hey Harry!" Dylan said. "We've got a question for you that we didn't think we should ask Ron or Hermione considering they're prefects and all-are there any secret passageways around Hogwarts that we can use so Filch doesn't catch us? I've heard talk that Fred and George Weasley knew a bunch and we'd like to try them."
Harry looked over at Hunter and Ally-Hunter looked a little worried and Ally was looking at Dylan disdainfully. "Why do you want to know?" he asked Dylan.
"Just wondering," Dylan said with a grin.
"No you're not!" Ally said sharply before turning to Harry. "He's trying to figure out a way to get back at this Slytherin bloke named Underwood."
"What for?" Harry asked.
"He and this other boy named Deveaux managed to get me into some trouble with Snape," Dylan replied darkly.
"He has detention," Ally said.
"I'm sure Fred and George would be proud," Dylan said.
"Stop worshipping those two!" Ally groaned.
"Fred and George have had their moments, but nothing beats the Marauders," Harry said. "Now, let me get this straight…two blokes named Underwood and Deveaux got Dylan into trouble and now Dylan wants to pay them back. Ally-you're against this and Hunter…I suppose you're going to help Dylan however you can, right?"
Hunter nodded, but Dylan was looking at him curiously. "Who are the Marauders?"
"Four former Gryffindors who wrecked havoc on this school," Harry said with a grin. "My dad was one of them, as was Sirius Black and Professor Lupin. We won't discuss the fourth member," he said with a scowl.
"Professor Lupin! Sirius Black! Didn't he mur-"
"He was cleared of all charges," Harry said furiously. "He didn't kill anybody. That was the fourth member and the traitor, Peter Pettigrew."
"But isn't he dead?" Ally asked.
"No, he's very much alive," Harry said darkly.
"Your dad was one of these troublemakers too?" Hunter asked.
Harry nodded. "You should ask some of the older teachers around here sometimes about the exploits of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and the traitor. Although don't let Professor Lupin know I told you," he added with a wink.
Dylan grinned. "Wicked."
"So can you help us?" Hunter asked.
"Depends on what you want to do to enact your revenge," Harry replied.
Ally gasped. "You're going to help them?"
Harry shrugged. "I've done this a couple of times. Ron and I have gotten ourselves into a fair share of scuffles with the Slytherins."
"Do you think Ron would help?" Dylan asked.
He shrugged again. "You'd have to ask him. Do you have anything from Fred and George's shop?"
Dylan nodded. "I've got a few of their Snackboxes."
"So do you have a Puking Pastille?" Harry asked.
Again, Dylan nodded. "Yep."
"Great. Slip them some of that, or maybe some Ton Tongue Toffee," Harry told them. "It's much better than trying to challenge them in a duel."
Dylan thought about this for a moment and then muttered, "Now why didn't I think of that?"
Hunter quirked his eyebrow in amusement. "Thanks Harry," he said and grabbed Dylan by the shirtsleeve, pulling him away.
"Good luck," Harry said, watching them go as Ally muttered, "We are going to get in so much trouble…"
About an hour later, Ron and Hermione returned, both looking rather excited.
"Hey, what's up?" Harry asked.
"Sorry, Harry, we can't tell you," Ron said. It was apparent that Ron was very pleased at the moment that he was a prefect and that keeping information from Harry was a sort of payback for the knowledge that Harry was actually supposed to be one instead of him.
"What? Why?" Harry asked, turning to Hermione and refusing to look at Ron.
"I'm sorry, Harry, but we just can't," Hermione said, sitting down next to Harry and giving Ron a reproachful look. "You'll find out tomorrow evening at dinner, I promise."
Harry sighed. "Fine, keep secrets from me," he muttered and got up.
"Like you don't," Ron said nastily.
Harry turned and glared at Ron. "You know what, Ron? Blow it out your rear end and get over it, would you? I'm sorry about it all. I'm sorry Dumbledore ever told me, because I was just as happy not knowing. So get over it and be grateful that Dumbledore did what he did; don't hold a grudge. You're the bloody prefect, not me! Perhaps one day you'll get over your need to be glorified!" And he stormed away up into the dormitory without looking back.
The next morning, he woke up and found Ron sitting and watching him. "What?" he grumbled, fumbling for his glasses.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for acting like an arse this past week," Ron said slowly, as if he were forcing the words out of his mouth.
Harry, understanding how hard it must be for him to say that, nodded. "It's okay," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I've been acting like an arse this week."
Ron grinned. "But you did have some points though. I am turning into a fanatic and I am jealous that Dumbledore really did choose you for prefect. I just-I guess-"
"I know," Harry said quietly. "Forget it, okay?"
Ron nodded. "Okay."
*****
Later on that evening, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down in the Great Hall, finishing off their beef casserole as Dumbledore stood and addressed them all.
"If I could have a moment of your time," he said, "I have an announcement for you all about the upcoming events here at Hogwarts." There was a murmur of interest. "Thanks to the efforts of our Head Boy, Head Girl, and the prefects, we will be arranging several unique occasions for the entire student body."
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "How long have you two been working on these things?" he whispered.
"Awhile," Hermione said, "but Ron wouldn't know, would he?" She glared at him.
"So I've missed a couple of meetings…I was there for the last one," Ron said indignantly.
"A couple? Try five!" Hermione shot back furiously.
"Shut up, would you all?" a seventh year growled from behind them.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione focused back to what Dumbledore was saying.
"-that will hopefully encourage unity between the Houses. The first of these events will be something those third year and higher might remember from two years ago when we hosted the schools of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons: the Yule Ball."
The Hall rose into a fevered pitch as many girls squealed in delight and many people began to discuss the upcoming event.
Dumbledore held up his hands for silence. "There will be a few differences at this year's Yule Ball. The first would be that it will be held the night before the winter holiday begins: Friday, the twenty-first of December. The next day those wishing to return home for the holiday will, of course, board the train. The other difference is that the ball is open to anyone who wishes to attend, which I hope will be all of you. Dress robes will be required, however, dates are not." He said this with a twinkle in his eye.
"The next event will be held between the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff and the Ravenclaw versus Slytherin Quidditch matches. It will be a boys versus girls match which will mix all four of the Quidditch teams. The final event will be for anyone who wishes to participate. It will be a dueling contest held in the late spring. Those who participate will have to learn and adapt to each participant's dueling style, thus learning something about the person himself. I hope that many of you choose to participate in these events to help unite the Houses. Thank you."
The Hall exploded with conversation. "A ball, a Quidditch match, and a contest?" Harry asked, looking at both Ron and Hermione.
"We thought they would be interesting," Hermione said, "although only Quidditch players can play in the Quidditch match and it does divide the school by gender, but hopefully it will help unite some of the Houses."
"The Houses are already united," Harry said. "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw get along fine, it's Slytherin that doesn't."
"And Slytherin is part of this school-a major part. Without them we are down two hundred people," Hermione reasoned.
"It's rubbish," Ron muttered, "but we have to go through it."
"Well, would you prefer for us to have those two hundred people or would you prefer Voldemort to?" Hermione said fiercely as Ron cringed.
"Touché," Harry said with a grin. "We'll see how this turns out."