Chapter 21 -- -- Heat of the Moment
By the end of October, the new security procedures for Hogwarts had been put in place. All of the known tunnels had been sealed. And several corridors had been declared as off-limits for students traveling to and from classes. A great deal of time was spent teaching of the dangers of using the Unforgivable Curses. More emphasis was placed on spells relating to personal safety. These changes were well received by Hogwarts staff and students alike.
As Madam Pomfrey had hoped, time had begun to heal most of the wounds. Harry had begun to walk without pain, however, occasionally he would feel unbalanced and weak. Luna began to breathe normally, but still showed little to no feeling below the neck. The most amazing recovery was that of Malfoy. The bruises on Malfoy's face had healed completely and with the help of magical medicine, the damage to his ankles was minimized, leaving him with a slightly painful limp.
Harry and Hermione had finally finished all the invitations for the Yule Ball. They had been delivered to the houses and had been a source of excitement for nearly every student. Today they were sitting in a secluded area of the library that they liked so much.
"Good job, Hermione. Everyone loved the design of the invitations. And for the first time this year, people are excited about something here at school. Who knows, maybe another couple will pledge their love for one another at the Yule Ball. I really hope this heals the painful emotions we've all had over the last two months." Said Harry happily.
"It really is a good feeling, Harry. I just hope nothing happens to cause the Yule Ball to be canceled. Not only because we put a lot of work into it, but because I think it is doesn't good thing for everyone here," Hermione said. "Have you talked to Luna lately? She seems in better spirits."
"She does seem in better spirits, doesn't she? The best thing is, she stopped talking about Ron in the past tense. I don't think she's nearly as depressed and she was before. I don't know why we no less now than we did what we first started. I don't know what is, but Luna seems to have a sixth sense about things like this. Let's hope that's what it is. I just hope the new potion Snape and Madam Pomfrey have developed begins to help Luna," said Harry with a hopeful smile.
"Harry, what time is the Order meeting tonight?" Hermione asked.
"Eight o'clock sharp. They are going to discuss some developments in the search for Ron. I guess the footprints going in and out of the Thomas' house provided some sort of lead or something. They found identical ones in a house in South London yesterday." Harry said hopefully. "He's been gone over a month now. I hope they find him soon."
"Harry, I heard there is some possible good news about my defense too tonight. I don't know exactly but Hagrid let something slip again." She laughed. "I'm not sure that Hagrid ever let's things slip. It's his way of being sneaky." Her smile grew larger.
They continued to talk for a while longer before everyone started heading for the Great Hall for supper. The same old air of electricity was back at the dinner table tonight. So many rumors about who was taking who to the Yule Ball. It was it's own teenage soap opera at Hogwarts beginning this afternoon. Parvati and Lavender were exceptionally stunning as they walked into the Hall watching carefully which boys gave them second looks of interest and which ones looked like they were ready invite them to play field hockey. Hermione noticed the little play developing and Seamus was ready for it.
"Hi, Parvati," said Seamus a little on the nervously excited side. "Do you have a moment?"
Parvati looked a little unsure, but she was impressed that he was courteous enough to ask her to speak privately. "Certainly, Seamus."
"Parvati, I'd be honored if you would attend the Yule Ball with me. Would you like to go?" Seamus said with an almost confident look on his face.
"I would like that very much, Seamus. Thank you." She said with a warm, friendly grin.
"Great!" said Seamus. He was hardly able to maintain his composure. Parvati was pleased that he was happy, but she was a little embarrassed when everyone looked over as Seamus pumped his fist. "Thank you, Parvati. What kind of flowers do you like?"
Parvati was a little stunned at the question as she remembered the tale Hermione had told. "Orchids are my favorite, Seamus. What are your favorites?"
"Oh, I don't know. Carnations, maybe." Said Seamus with an absolutely clueless look on his face. "I have to admit, I never thought you'd ask me. I have never thought about it until this very minute." He admitted.
Parvati laughed. "You're cute when you get that stumped look on your face. Carnations are just fine." Parvati was trying to think of where she would get him carnations between now and the Ball. Did she have to? She didn't care, she'd do it anyway.
They walked back and sat down at the table. Seamus asked one of the first years if he'd mind if Parvati and he could switch spots. Lavender was jealous that Parvati got the attention of someone she liked first, but she smiled at Parvati as she sat down.
"Well, it's good to see that love is in the air again!" She exclaimed poking a little fun at her fellow Gryffindors.
"Hermione, be quite. You spend more time snogging with Harry in that "secret spot" in the library in one night than most couples do in a week. Yeah, that's right, we've known for weeks." She stuck out her tongue in mock embarrassment as she laughed along with Seamus.
Harry's and Hermione's ears and cheeks turned red. They had been spending an awful lot of time lip to lip and chin to chin while Harry couldn't walk so well. Getting caught was one thing, but being put to shame in public was the worst.
As they began to eat an excited Ginny came running into the Great Hall yelling at Harry and Hermione, "Great news! Absolutely fantastic news! Come on you two, you can eat later. Let's go."
At first neither of them knew what was going on. They thought they would have known if Ron had been found. Could it be?
Breathlessly, Hermione managed to get the words out. "What's this all about? Come on, slow down Ginny!"
Just as breathlessly Ginny said, "I want you to see for yourself."
As they turned the corner into the infirmary, they saw a jubilant Mr. Lovegood hugging an upright Luna. Her arms were shaking but she had lifted them up around his neck.
"She woke up this evening from a nap and when her father gave her a hug her arms shook slightly and raised a little from the bed. She had thought about hugging him and she said her arms just started to move. It's a miracle!" Exclaimed Ginny.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been in checking on other sick kids and had the biggest smiles for Luna other than her father. Arthur and Molly were there to support her and anyone who needed love since Ron went missing. The scene was the most joyous anywhere in Hogwarts that night or any night since the kidnapping and murders.
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The good news about Luna spread quickly around school. The combination of the Yule Ball and the partial recovery of Luna made everyone feel better. The coming of the holiday season was sure to improve everyone's morale.
This held true even in the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. Professor Dumbledore held his hands out in welcome to Mr. Lovegood as he arrived to the meeting. "I am so glad for you. Hopefully the potion will continue to renew the cells in her neck and spine. Let's hope that she walks soon."
Just as things started to look darkest, thought Harry, something always happens to get things back on track. He listened with Hermione at his side. They have found those footprints with exactly the same pattern. The forensics lab at Scotland Yard was convinced that they had been made by the same man. The treads of the shoes making the footprints where long and flat in the toe area as it moved toward the heel indicating that the man had been carrying something relatively heavy both times. New evidence often opened up new paths in these types of investigations, so Agent McDougall would allow Bill and Charlie to come along to interview people in the area. They were hopeful something new would turn up. Harry listened intently, but found the details quite boring until the subject of Hermione came up.
"The word is that both of Intruder's wands revealed a pattern of using the Unforgivable Curses. A review of his last spells included the killing of a muggle petrol station attendant, the torture of two innocent bystanders, and various other unusual curses and hexes used to incapacitate people. Shockingly, none seemed to have been directed at Mr. Malfoy. This was one bad wizard…evil and unafraid to use the most horrible methods to do his work," said Mad-Eye with a hopeful look toward Hermione.
"What does that mean, Professor Dumbledore?" Asked a suddenly expectant Hermione.
"Well, it means that we can challenge the law against use of the Unforgivable Curses based on the clause in which states, in effect, that if one witnesses or has the reasonable expectation that another is using the Curses in battle and threatens someone, that someone may defend themselves in kind. You can thank Mr. Moody for thinking of using the 'Priori Encantatem' spell to see all the previous spells the wand was responsible for."
"How are we going to prove that I had that type of foresight? I was barely able to focus on my own wand let alone think of what spell he might be using." Assessed Hermione.
"Harry, what were your feelings at the time this was happening? Did you sense any danger from these curses?" Dumbledore asked.
"I might have been thinking just how it looked when Cedric was killed. I had that eerie feeling of death. Right, Hermione? What do you remember from the pensieve?" Harry asked.
"I might have thought of the Curse because Harry and I were so close at the time and were looking directly into each other's eyes as Harry turned back toward me. I don't know! I just can't say for sure." She said emphatically.
"Professor, I think that may be more likely than any scenario. I find it hard to believe that Miss Granger carries that kind of anger and hatred with her. She would have had to have fed off someone else. At least that's what I think." Said Mad-Eye as Snape nodded his agreement.
"Harry, this Legilimency thing is going to get me killed, if I don't become the best Occlumens at Hogwarts," said Hermione with a little bit of a shirty lilt to her voice.
"Harry, Hermione is right. The two of you must become more proficient at Occlumency. It isn't a nice to have skill anymore. She is in danger even when you don't mean to because she has a little bit of ability to read you Harry. I noticed that early on in your joint training, but I never imagined this scenario." Dumbledore admitted that the Mad-Eye's theory held water.
"Won't it just feed the controversy that Harry Potter is a menace? He made a perfectly normal witch use an Unforgivable Curse because he can't control his magical powers. Why must you be so lazy, Potter?" Queried Snape.
Harry stood up.
"Oh, yeah, I wanted my girlfriend to go to prison for killing someone with an Unforgivable Curse. I asked when I was just a few hours old for my parents to piss off Voldemort so I could be a damned freak." Harry was shaking where he stood and hobbled toward Snape. "Look in my eyes, Professor. What do you see? A liar, a braggart, a cheat. Everything you thought of my father. Do you want me gone? Just say so. You insufferable prat. I asked for this, didn't I? You jealous, bastard!"
"Harry! Sit down! You will apologize for your behavior!" Commanded Dumbledore as Arthur Weasley got between Harry and Snape.
"I will not apologize, Professor. With all due respect, Headmaster, Professor Snape has been one of the biggest reasons I mourn Sirius. He had the opportunity to put his anger for my father and his friends behind him and be a mentor to me as an associate of Sirius. He hasn't and he torments me for the sins of my father, acting with revenge as if he were 17 years old again. I don't question his loyalty to the Order, but I refuse to let him bully me anymore. Hogwarts, Professor of Potions or not…period." Fumed Harry indignantly and loudly.
"Miss Granger, would you kindly take Harry with you as you leave," said Dumbledore. "Mr. Potter, you and I will discuss this later." The tone in Dumbledore's voice was more distressed as he finished speaking.
"Come on, Harry," hastily whispered Hermione as she pulled his hand toward the door. He followed as the door closed behind them.
"Harry, what's gotten into you? Do you realize what you've done? You just took one person who helped us by saving Ginny and embarrassed him and yourself." She said this with a scowl and an angry tone.
"Look, you too. You seemed to be accusing me of intentionally thinking of things and changing your thoughts like I wanted to do it." Harry said.
"Don't you ever take that tone with me, Harry Potter. I would stick with you to the bitter end. But, now that you mention it Harry, I never said how angry I really was that you thought I was too weak to handle my own affairs. You had to jump to my rescue. I don't mind on one hand because I know you love me. But don't you ever try to convince me of anything again like that again. It would break our trust. And, right now, the way you spoke to Snape I am having a hard time respecting you for anything."
Hermione turned and walked away with tears in her eyes. She was determined to let Harry know what it felt like when people say what they think instead of being kind and gracious. He had started to act a little too superior for her liking.
"Okay, I guess this means you won't be joining me in the library, huh?" Jeered Harry.