Unofficial Portkey Archive

AN: Updates might be slower now since school has started. Thank you all for the wonderful support =) !!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling does. The plot and any extra characters belong to me :)

It was a week before the Quidditch match, and just a week and a day until the Winter Solstice Ball. Of course, everyone was feeling overly excited and found it awfully hard to concentrate during classes. And so with all the excitement, everyone forgot to worry.

It was just another morning, with everyone heading into the Great Hall for breakfast like usual, under the enchanted ceiling which was still drifting flakes of snow. Harry was amongst the crowd and as he sat down on his seat, he was surprised to see Hedwig soar in with the rest of the owls to deliver the morning post. Of course, it had been hard to spot Hedwig at first, since he blended in with the ceiling, but soon enough, it couldn't be mistakened. Hedwig did indeed have something to drop off for him.

And sadly, it wasn't anything interesting. It wasn't a letter from an old friend (not like he had an old friend), nor was it a package from home (if you could call that home a home..), it was simply a copy of the Daily Prophet. And Harry found it rather strange that Hedwig had brought him a copy, since he hadn't subscribed to the ever so popular wizarding newsletter...unless Hedwig had snatched it from somebody else.

He looked curiously at his owl who simply stared back at him and hooted in triumpth, as if he were saying, "Well, shouldn't you be thanking me now?"

Yet Harry didn't know what to make of it, but still he ripped off a bit of his toast and offered it to Hedwig while flipping open the Daily Prophet with slight interest. He scanned the front cover, suddenly feeling awfully chilly although he was warmly dressed. The front cover had in big bold calligraphy: 'ATTACK ON OTTERY ST. CATCHPOLE'. Harry lifted his head after reading, and noticed that he was not the only one.

Ron Weasley was sitting nearby, gripping a copy of the Daily Prophet so tightly that his knuckles were as white as the snow outside. Harry suddenly felt that this was no ordinary attack...well of course it wasn't. It had said clearly that there were Death Eaters present, and a strange person in a dark cloak that was still not identified. And of course, many lost their lives. Even a few of the more famous wizarding familes; the Lovegoods and Fawcetts.

Harry swallowed. Ron was still gripping the copy of the newsletter tightly as his younger sister Ginny Weasley ran up to him from behind crying out, "Ron! Ron! Did you see?! Did you read..." Yet her voice trailed off at once when she spotted the newsletter gripped tightly in her brother's hands. "Oh Ron...I'm so glad they're ok."

"It would've been so close though Ginny.." Ron said shakily. "So close ."

"I know...but let's not think of that," Ginny added hastily. "They're ok."

"What if they aren't? Maybe the reporters didn't find out that perhaps our home was attacked along with the rest...and maybe they forgot to include it in the news or.." Ron suddenly stopped short by the frightened look on his sister's pale features. "Oh Ginny..nevermind what I said. Yes, you're right. They must be ok.."

"They are," Ginny repeated and took out a piece of parchment from her robes. "I got this, this morning. From Pig. It's from mum, saying everything's alright at The Burrow, but it's pretty much ruins beyond the hills..."

Ron took the letter in his hands, scanning it quickly with his eyes and letting a breath of relief escape his lips. "Death Eaters...this hasn't happened since when? Seventeen years ago?"

Ginny just nodded weakly and suddenly noticed that a pair of eyes were watching them intently. She turned and met Harry's gaze. "Um...?"

Harry quickly snapped to attention and dropped his own copy of the Daily Prophet, Ginny following his every move. "Er...I was just wondering, well, that attack sounded pretty awful eh?"

"Well...yeah," Ginny replied. "Ottery St. Catchpole is really near are home. You can even say we live there. That's why we," she waved a hand lightly at Ron, "were so worried."

Harry nodded numbly, "...I see...and you said, there haven't been attacks for seventeen years?"

"The last attacks were before...you-know-who suddenly disappeared..." Ron muttered, his eyes darting about. "It's strange really...it couldn't be that...you-know-who could be...back?"

Ginny nearly gasped and stared at her brother wide-eyed. "Ron! Don't say that!"

"How else do you explain this then?" Ron shot back and sighed. "Oh it doesn't matter, as long as mum and dad are ok."

The youngest Weasley decided to drop the matter and retreated silently back to her seat without another word. Harry stared from Ron to Ginny's retreating figure and suddenly lost his appetite. "I never got to worry." He suddenly spoke.

Ron folded up his copy of the Daily Prophet and glanced at him curiously. "What?"

"...Er..well," Harry looked at him sheepishly. "I never got to worry. I didn't have time to worry...or you could say I didn't know how to worry then. I couldn't worry about my parents' safety...I was only a year old. They just died and I had no clue whatsoever about what was going on."

The red-head stared, and suddenly dropped his gaze. "Oh. I'm sorry.."

"It's okay," Harry shrugged and returned to his breakfast, noticing that Hedwig had flown off with half of his sandwich. He smiled to himself and glanced up at the snowing ceiling.

It really felt like Christmas now. With the snow floating down and blanketing the grounds with nice, pure, white, snow. Beautiful snow. Clean and fresh, and soft at first. And Harry suddenly had a strange thought. If that beautiful white snow was to be ruined...by perhaps a stain. One step in that snow, it would no longer be that fresh flat piece of perfection. No...it would forever be ruined. And he imagined. Perhaps...what if blood was spilt onto that wonderful snow? Wouldn't that ruin it even more. What a frightening sight that would be...blood-stained snow.

Harry shivered. Bloody hell, what am I thinking?

Hermione stepped forward, then backwards again. She shuffled her feet and glanced down at her robes thoughtfully, and then she stepped forwards again.

"Oh how do I say this? I'll sound like such a complete idiot!" She was having a headache. A really pointless headache. Hermione refused to stay so frustrated when she knew she could get her problem solved just by walking up to him and say that she had decided to not go to the ball at all. And yet it was so very hard to get herself to walk up to Justin when he was just a few steps away.

Oh Hermione, he's not going to bite! Her mind scoffed as she stepped back again.

Hermione sighed. This would be her only chance for the day to get to talk to Justin since they only had Herbology class together today. But there was also dinner time when she could tell him, but then there would be too many people around.

She bit her lip. Well are you Head-Girl or not? Hermione sucked in a breath and took two large steps forward. "Hello Justin!" She greeted breathlessly as if she had just run a mile.

The Head-Boy turned around and grinned, "Oh hullo Hermione. You look kind of knocked out.. you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine! Really fine." Hermione said with a wave of her hand and smiled lightly. "Er..."

"Hm?" Justin glanced at her curiously. "Are you having trouble with your Teafee plant?"

"What?" Hermione blinked, then shook her head. "Oh! My plant?" She looked over her shoulder. "No, it's fine. It's something else."

Justin's brow scrunched up thoughtully. "Well, whatever it is, it seems to be troubling you."

"It is!" Hermione declared exasperatedly. "I meant to say that...um..." And suddenly she felt awfully bad. She didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, and what if he took it the wrong way and..well being on bad terms with the Head-Boy while you were Head-Girl just didn't seem to make sense.

Hermione swallowed, keeping her forced smile on her lips. "Lovely plant."

Justin chuckled, "Yes. They're rather interesting actually. Oh look, it's spurting Green Tea."

She laughed lightly- this was getting no where so far. "Oh by the way..."

"Hmm?"

"About the ball..."

Justin nodded, "Yes, it'll be great fun!"

"Um, right." Hermione's voice trailed off and she sighed. "Well, I better get back to my plant."

"See you later then?"

"Sure," Hermione quickly shuffled away and back to her table that she shared with Ron, Seamus, Lavender, and Parvati.

Ron nudged her lightly. "So, taken interest in the Head-Boy?"

She scowled, "Of course not."

"Seems like you two were having might fun chit-chatting," Seamus wiggled his eyebrows.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "No. In fact I didn't even get to say what I intended to say, and now I don't know how I'm going to say it. He's so excited about it."

"About what?" Lavender and Parvati questioned in unison.

Hermione ignored their question and went back to treating her plant. But really she wasn't concentrating when she was still having that pesky little headache.

She didn't really want to go to the ball. To be exact, she didn't want to go to the ball with Justin. She didn't know why, but she felt badly of it. Everytime her thoughts trailed back to the conversation she had with Harry before Justin had asked her to the ball.

"Ok, ok. I won't force you to go. You wanna hit the books with me?" Hermione asked.

"No seriously!"

And then Justin had come along and asked her. And she had agreed. Now she was having a slight mind battle with herself in whether or not to go with Justin or not. She really didn't know why she had agreed to it in the first place. Perhaps she was slightly dazed...or perhaps she had been in a trance and wasn't very sure of what was going on around her. But no, those reasonings didn't make sense.

And she had seen that look on Harry's face after Justin left in a very happy manner. That look was all it took to make her start thinking that perhaps she shouldn't have agreed. Especially when she had suggested Harry to 'hit the books' with her. And they hadn't spoken to each other since.

Hermione sighed again. She wondered what Harry thought. She wondered what Harry felt now. That she was someone that didn't stick to what she said? Yes, that was probably what Harry thought of her now. Oh, but did it matter what he thought of her? No, of course not! But then again, it did matter. Although she wasn't sure why it mattered, but it really did matter and no matter what, she didn't want Harry to dislike her.

She wanted to help him. She liked being friends with him. And yes, she would admit it, she didn't want to lose this newly found friendship between them.

And for that she needed to talk to Justin and say she couldn't go with him. But Hermione knew it wouldn't be that simple, she wasn't heartless. She just had to use her brain and find a way to gently bring it up to Justin. Yes, she would have to use her brain.

Harry was having an interesting week. That didn't mean it was an spectacular week, or a dreadful week, but it was just an interesting week. The Quidditch match was drawing ever so close, just two days away. They had been practicing the whole week, with Ron being very fidgety and impatient, but the days were good. The team accepted him warmly, and he was grateful for that.

And Dean had woken up.

Dean had grinned when the whole team came to see him in the Hospital Wing, and yet he wasn't that surprised to see Harry amongst the group. "You're my replacement, aren't you?"

Harry had nodded.

Dean had continued grinning. "Well, that means you must be a pretty damn good Seeker! I'm glad Ron found an replacement."

Harry had felt his heart jump slightly. "But since you're awake now, doesn't that mean you're back?"

The whole team had looked to Ron then to Dean. "Well, technically yes. But I don't want to."

Everyone stared. "You don't?" Harry had asked bluntly.

"Well, I do want to play Quidditch. But it's my mother," Dean rolled his eyes. "She's worried sick that I'll get injured again so she won't let me back on a broomstick until I manage to persuade her to let me!"

Ron had laughed. "Ha! Your mom is still the same. Paranoid about her little baby boy."

"Oh sod off," Dean had grunted. "But yeah, I guess I'm alright with it for now. And besides, we've got another Seeker now."

"He's even better than you Dean!" Colin had added.

Dean grinned, "Well, that's even better then, 'aint it?" He looked at Harry. "Harry Potter, glad you're on the team!"

And that was settled. Harry was Gryffindor Seeker, officially and permanent. So that was one of the good things that had happened during his interesting week. But of course, he was having troubles with his emotions and thoughts.

One, there was Hermione Granger. He hadn't known why, but when she had agreed to go to the ball with Justin, he had wanted to leap up and say, "But she told me to go and study with her!" But no, he had remained silent. And when Justin left, disappointment finally sunk into his chest and he hadn't spoken to Hermione since then.

Two, there were his dreams. Nightmares. He'd been having them everyday night now. Every night he was haunted with disturbing images. Those familiar green flashes again, supposedly the death curse that killed his parents. A hooded figure, a pair of snake-like eyes, and himself covered in blood. Blood drenched his clothes. Blood crusted onto his matted hair. Blood pooling out around him. And yet there was always someone beside him.

Always someone there.

Always someone standing next to him. With him, helping him.

And that was the only part of the nightmare that wasn't the least bit frightful. Yet he was also worried. Attacks had gone on throughout the week. Everyday Hedwig would bring a copy of the Daily Prophet to him during breakfast. Every morning the front cover would contain a story of another attack. They were all the same. Death Eaters. The Dark Mark.

Harry didn't know why, but he was worried. Something nagged at him. Something made him wonder, if this could mean something. And yet the sensible side of himself knew it was silly to worry. He wasn't the only one worrying though, the whole wizarding community was rather shocked at all the train of attacks happening. Some thought it would just past by, some thought you-know-who was rising.

Harry just worried.

He had wanted to go to Dumbledore. Ask the wise wizard for assistance- with his nightmares, his questions. But he couldn't bring himself to go to the old man. Perhaps he felt insecure, better off with what he knew already. Or maybe he was scared of what Dumbledore would tell him. Maybe it was better off this way, with him not knowing anything at all.

"Harry!!"

Harry sat up in his chair and glanced surprisingly at the portait hole. "Hermione? How did you get into my dorm?"

Hermione stood with her hair slightly a mess, breathless, and a bit of a sheepish look on her face. "Well, I heard you mutter it last time when I came. I'm sorry. I won't tell anyone at all."

Harry simply smiled. "It's alright."

"Good," She returned the smile and looked at him questioningly. "So...we're alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well...I'm not really sure how to say this," Hermione said softly.

He glanced at her knowingly. "It's alright. Have fun at the ball. It's in three days, are you ready?"

"Um, that's just it," Hermione replied. "I'm not ready, and I'll never be ready."

"What?" Harry said confusedly.

Hermione laughed lightly. "Oh don't you get it?"

"Well, I get the part where you're not ready for the ball but..."

"No, no you silly git," Hermione punched him playfully on the shoulder. "I'm not going!"

"You're what?"

"I'm not going!" Hermione repeated and watched as Harry's expression turned from confusion to expressionless, and finally a small smile quirked onto his lips.

"Really?" He asked, trying to contain the happiness and excitement from his voice.

She crossed her arms. "Yes, would I lie to you about this?"

"Of course not," Harry replied hastily. "It's just....why?"

"Don't you remember?" Hermione asked in a fake voice of amazement. "We're hitting the books together! Aren't we?"

Harry stared at her. "What?"

"You really are deaf today, Harry. Aren't you?" Hermione teased.

He grinned, "You're serious?"

"Yes."

"You want to 'hit the books' with me rather than going to a ball?" He asked quietly, averting his gaze from Hermione's bright face.

She rolled her eyes, "Yes Harry Potter, I rather spend the time with my friend studying than go to a ball with an acquaintance. Does that suit your ears?"

Harry just smiled, "Thanks..."

"Why? I mean...actually I should apologize," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I asked you to study with me and then I agreed to go with Justin...I must have confused you...and I did ask you to do something else first, so.."

"Oh." He said dryly. "Is that why?"

"....What do you mean?"

Harry glanced at the scarlet carpet. "Because you felt bad for me? So you decided to not go with Justin and go study with me?"

"No!" Hermione said, her face full of alarm as she stared at Harry wide-eyed. "No..."

"Well...why else? Justin's Head-Boy...you two going together to the ball would be...perfect. It's alright really, I'm fine."

Hermione frowned. Right at this moment she wanted to pick up one of the velvet pillows on the couch and bonk Harry on the head with one of then. How could he have such low self-esteem? Hermione huffed, "Harry Potter! Really! You're acting ridiculous.'

He didn't reply, but stared doubtfully at his feet again. Hermione sighed, "Don't you get it? I like spending time with you more than going to some silly ball alright? How much clearer can I get?"

"Hermione.."

"And don't start with your awfully stupid ramblings about how I would want to spend time with you. I'm your friend. People spend time with their friends," She said with frustration. "Maybe that's why you've never had any good friends! Maybe because you can't get it through your head that friends are there for you, and that being friends with someone means that you care about them and their feelings!"

Harry suddenly looked at her with his piercing emerald eyes, causing her to stop short and stare back. "Well, maybe that is why. Right again, as usual Hermione."

Her shoulders sagged as she watched Harry stand up and stick his hands into his pockets. Maybe she had spoken too harshly... "Oh, Harry...nevermind..I didn't mean to say.."

"No," He interupted, gently, "You're right. You're my first true friend." He smiled now, a smile that warmed her from head to toe. "You can be my teacher."

"What?"

"My teacher," He repeated and ran a hand through his unruly hair, "in making friends." He grinned. "Since I'm a beginner."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, and suddenly broke into laughter. "Alright then Mr. Potter. Lesson one." She stuck her hand out.

Harry stared at her, then at her outstretched hand which looked very inviting. "...Am I suppose to shake that? Or.."

"No, silly!" She giggled. "Take my hand."

"...Alright," Harry shrugged and clasped his own hand around her smooth creamy hand. It was soft and warm to his touch, and it made his insides feel strangely light.

"Let's go outside!"

Harry's brow furrowed in slight confusion. "In the blithering cold?"

"Harry, it's not blithering cold!" Hermione tugged his arm towards the potrait hole. "Have some fun will you?"

"...Ok.."

"Aw, you don't sound very excited." Hermione pouted.

Harry shook his head, but he was grinning. "Oh stop using your girlish charm on me and let's go."

"Oooh, so I have charm?"

Harry rolled his eyes, dragging her out of the warm fire-lighted dorm room and out the portait hole, both laughing giddily as they ran through the torch-lighted hallways of Hogwarts.

Harry was shocked. Amazed, and excited as he flew over the stands of the Quidditch Pitch with the cheering crowds beneath him clad in scarlet and green. Waving banners and screams erupted in the air as the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams took their positions and waited for Madame Hooch's whistle.

"On the count of three now."

"1...2....3!" And the whistle blew and the Quaffle was in the air and everything just started in a blink of an eye.

Hermione was cheering, and probably amongst one of the loudest cheerers in the Gryffindor crowd. She was waving a banner that flashed from "Go Gryffindor!!" to "Go Harry!!", yet she was embarrassed if others got strange ideas, so she added every team member's name afterwards.

As for Harry, he couldn't see the Snitch at all and was simply trying to dodge the Bludgers that got in his way. He frowned as Draco Malfoy came serving around him, sending him a sneer. "Ah, look who we have here! Harry Potter?"

Harry glared. He didn't like Slytherins. Well in fact, no one did. But he had heard of Draco Malfoy and his horrible reputation. Everyone thought he would follow in his father's footsteps into the Dark Arts. "Draco Malfoy." He muttered.

"Yes, sadly I am Draco Malfoy," The blonde said haughtily. "That's just too bad for you isn't it?"

"What are you saying?" Harry kept his voice steady as he balanced on his broom.

Draco laughed, "What are you doing on the pitch anyways? Come here to kill yourself?"

Harry continued glaring.

"What? Trying to kill me by glaring at me?" Draco smirked. "I'd say you better watch out."

"Wha.."

Boom! Harry felt himself tumble forward, his gloved hands clutching tightly to his (Dean's) broomstick as he doubled over and flipped. It felt like something very huge just punched him straight in the back as he finally regained his balance and looked around him in bewilderment.

Draco Malfoy's laughter finally reached his ringing ears as the Slytherin Seeker flew by him. "Really, you should have better reflexes in the game of Quidditch."

Harry gritted his teeth as he swerved around him, just in time to see a Bludger speed by him. Bollocks. That was bloody embarrassing. "I'll get that Snitch...if that's the last thing I do," Harry mumbled under his breath as he sped off in the opposite direction.

Below, Hermione sat at the end of her seat biting her lip in agitation. She had watched as Draco Malfoy flew towards Harry and had also watched them conversing while a Bludger was definately speeding towards Harry's back. She had hollered out his name over and over again, but alas it was hopeless for Harry to hear her over the roaring crowds.

And so she could do nothing but watch as Malfoy sneered and the oblivious expression on Harry's face told her that he knew nothing about the Bludger behind him. Yet all to soon the Bludger went smack into Harry's back and had sent him spiraling forwards in a series of flips.

"That should be a foul for Gryffindor! It was obvious that Malfoy distracted Potter so that he would get hit by that Bludger! I say that's just wrong!!" Lee Jordan's familiar voice echoed out onto the Quidditch Pitch.

Hermione completely agreed with Lee Jordan at the moment but Harry seemed to be managing as if the Bludger caused him no pain at all. Though Hermione doubted that being hit head on with a Bludger was painless. "Come on Harry, show Malfoy what you've got.."

As if hearing Hermione's silent prayer, Harry turned towards where she sat and waved, a grin spreading on his face as she saw her waving her banner that was currently flashing 'Go Harry!!!!'. Hermione gave him the thumbs up sign and Harry just grinned wider.

It was at that moment that Draco Malfoy literally pushed by Harry, causing him to swerve to his left. Harry didn't know why Malfoy was in such a hurry, but then he remembered- the Snitch.

He looked wildly after Draco and saw that he was hot on persuit with the Snitch just ahead of him fluttering near the grass. Harry suddenly felt hopeless. How could he catch up with Draco when he was very much ahead of him? Harry swallowed. Better try than regret later, Potter.

Harry squinted his eyes as he focused all his attention towards the glittering Snitch, leaning over slightly to increase his speed as he sped after Draco in a straight line.

"THEY'VE SPOTTED THE SNITCH!!"

This caused the crowds to fall silent and edge towards the side of the stands to get a clear view of the two Seekers zooming after the small golden ball. Hermione once again murmered her silent prayers in hoping that Harry would catch up to Draco...

And once again it was as if Harry heard her, for suddenly the boy put on a burst of speed and was head to head with Draco.

"What are you doing, Potter?!"

"Trying to get the Snitch." Harry replied shortly.

Draco frowned and leaned his broom towards Harry's side, pushing him off course. Harry frowned and served right, leaving a small gap between the two, but Draco continued pushing towards Harry while his left hand was outstretched for the Snitch.

The two were almost parallel with it, but were still slightly higher than it. Harry grunted and pushed with all his might, against Draco. Draco didn't give up, and pushed much harder, causing Harry to fall sideways slightly.

"Malfoy.." Harry hissed.

Draco sneered, "What? Don't like playing games with me, Potter?"

Harry ignored him as he urged his broom faster, with Draco doing the same thing. They both sped at the Snitch at a horribly dangerous speed and smack, they both landed on the ground in a heap of scarlet and green robes, with their brooms no longer under them but beside them.

Madame Hooch's whistle blew and the teams landed swiftly on the ground to check on their Seekers.

"Harry! Harry!" Ron ran up to the pile of robes and helped Harry up.

"I'm fine," Harry uttered as he stood up fully. His cheeks were smeered with dirt, with a few scratches on his face and hands, but nothing severe. Draco stood up beside him and grunted, "Potter pushed me."

Harry glared, "You pushed me."

Madame Pince came bustling about, with a rather mad look on her pudgy face. "Oh stop arguing! You should be grateful you two are still alive! Quidditch! Really! I think it's too violent!"

"Hey! But where's the Snitch?" Ginny suddenly cried out.

Draco looked around him and shrugged, "It probably flew off again."

"Oh.." Seamus muttered, disappointment evident in his voice.

"No..."

"What?" Everyone turned their heads to Harry.

Harry lifted his right hand out of his pocket and produced the twittering golden Snitch in his palm. "It's...right here." He said numbly.

There was silence before the Gryffindor cheered and came running towards Harry and lifted him up on their shoulders in pure joy. "Good job, mate!"

"Splendid catch," Ginny grinned. "Well...if you could call that a catch!"

Harry beamed as the crowds finally got the message that Gryffindor had won. He watched as everyone came up to him, patting him on the back and congratulated him. He suddenly felt happy, proud...and evey happy emotion that ever existed.

"Harry!" A voice called out from the crowd.

Harry turned to meet the warm honey-brown eyes of Hermione Granger, and he waved to her again. Hermione grinned brightly, her face glowing with pride as she waved back and gave him another thumbs up.

Yet through all this happiness, it was one day until the Winter Solstice Ball. And no one worried, everyone just cheered. Through all this joy, no one could see the darkness that was ahead. Everything was perfect right now. And no one thought otherwise.

Not even Harry.