Prophesied

Chapter 9

The Christmas Dance

Ron, Hermione and I sat at a table in our common room working on our homework. I looked up, out to the balcony, and saw Lita standing out there, looking towards the west.

She was always out there, even now when it was snowing. Huge snowflakes fell around her, some landing on her hair and melting quickly away. She held out her hand and caught one.

She looked up at me and I wasn't surprised to see the tears that were in her sapphire eyes. She cries so much, it's almost like Cho.

The sound of a shutting door stole my attention and I saw Jeff walking out of the room that was almost mine. He had on his cloak and went straight to the balcony door and to Lita.

I admit, I'm jealous of him. He's known her longer and shared more with her. I felt a stronger surge of jealousy when she started crying on his shoulder. With as much as she says she hates him, they'll always be connected in one way or another.
~*~*~*~

"How are you holding up, Kid?" Jeff asked shutting the balcony door.

"Not good," I said thickly through my tears.

"How many years now?"

"Twelve," I answered. "Twelve years today," I sobbed.

He pulled me into his arms and for once, I didn't fight him, I needed him. I needed the familiarity that only he could give me.

Only he knew what today was. I hadn't told anyone and went through my classes in a daze. Who knew, that after 12 years, the anniversary of my brother's death would continue to be so hard? Why did it have to still hurt so much?

"You know, Harry should really be the one who's out here with you," he said. I heard his voice resonating in his chest and I closed my eyes. He forced a small laugh and pulled away from me. "I'm sure he's going to have something to say about all of this."

I looked inside and saw Harry staring at us. His eyes blazed with anger and jealousy. Jeff's right, this isn't his place anymore, it's Harry's.

Jeff walked inside and left the door open. Harry waited until Jeff was out of the room before he moved from his chair and strode quickly to the door. His movement was so unearthly that it was magical almost. He flowed from one position to the next like a dancer in a way that it was seamless.

He shut the door behind him, anger and jealousy gone from his face. "What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"A 12-year anniversary," I answered.

"Your brother?" he asked thoughtfully.

I nodded and he pulled me into his arms. "It's all my fault," I whispered. "He killed himself because I wanted to see a thestral. I'd read about them in one of his schoolbooks and thought it would be cool to see one. At five years old, you don't really think about the consequences of the things you do, you know?"
~*~*~*~

She looked up at me and I could easily see where her tears had fallen.

"He shot himself," she continued. "I don't know where he got the gun, but he did and he shot himself in front of me. He died instantly, for that I'm grateful, but it doesn't change the fact that I still have nightmares. I hear the distinct sound of the gunshot and I see his blood and brains splatter against the white wall behind him.... Every day I am tortured with the thought that I killed Michael."

I didn't know what to say to this, so I stayed quiet. The snow continued to fall around us, collecting on the railing and stone base we were standing on.

It's funny, that snow can be the most peaceful thing in the world, yet out here, in it, she is anything but.

I highly doubt that her brother killed himself because of her, but I know how it feels to hear it when you believe it's true. There was more to Michael's death, I'm sure of it. She said that he had been thinking like that for some time, which meant he probably had thought about it long before he found out she wanted to see a thestral.

"You're not going to tell me it wasn't my fault?"

"I'm sure you've heard it enough times. Merlin knows I have."
~*~*~*~

I loved the way his arms felt around me, making me feel so safe and secure. Maybe that's why I'd just confided in him what no one, not even my father, knew.

I liked how he didn't tell me that Michael's death wasn't my fault. He's right; I've most certainly heard it enough times from enough people.

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, smelling the unique sent that was Harry. It was a mixture of herbal shampoo, gel that smelled like oranges, and the soap that wasn't from Hogwarts.

I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Were you jealous?" I asked quietly. "When Jeff was out here with me instead of you?"

He hesitated. "I was, yes. Call me crazy, but I didn't really like the ex-boyfriend of my girl getting all touchy-feely with her, you know?" he added. I could hear his smile in his voice. I chuckled. "I know," I replied.

"Does this mean you're my date to the dance?"

"You're asking me to a dance that's two months away?"

"No, I'm asking you to a dance that's two weeks away."

"What?" I asked stepping away from him so I could see his face. "Two weeks?"

"For the seventh years. Sort of a celebratory thing Hermione wanted to do. Congratulate us all for sticking it out these seven years of hell."

"Well, they say whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Yeah, I'll go."

He smiled. "I can't wait," he said softly going in for the kiss.
~*~*~*~

Those two weeks passed in a blur. Between classes and Lita, Hermione and I gad to get flyers to the House dormitories to let the seventh years know about the dance. I gave flyers to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw and Hermione handed them out to Slytherin and Hufflepuff. Some wounds just ran too deep....

Lita was also teaching me Elvish. It was a complicated language to learn, with all of the long vowels and short consonants. Three words become one and one can easily turn into three. It's crazy and cool, in an odd sense.

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived and we had hours to go until the dance. Ron and I sat at a table playing Wizards Chess and laughing at the occasional outburst that came from the girls' room.

"So are you going with Ernie?" I asked moving a pawn forward.

"Yeah," he answered moving his Knight to take the pawn. He always does that. "He asked me last night."

"You two might want to think about getting ready," Jeff called. "You've got an hour."

"Finish tomorrow?" Ron asked standing. I nodded. "Later mate," he said walking out the door.

I got up, leaving the chess board and pieces alone (much to their dismay) and walked to my room.

I was not going to wear my green dress robes from three years ago (not only were they too short, this dance didn't require formal dress) I was going to show Hogwarts a side of me they've never seen.
~*~*~*~

"I can't believe you're going to wear this," Hermione said tightly lacing up my leather bustier. The red ribbons jumped out as she jerked the strings together.

"Why?" was my strangled reply. "They're not against the rules."

"I know they're not, but still," she yanked one last time and sighed. "Done," she said. "Look at what you're showing off. You're going to be the envy of every girl."

"That makes everything even then. The girls will hate me because I'm on Harry's arm and the guys will hate Harry because of me. It's like Serena always says: if you got it, flaunt it. Why shouldn't I wear this?"

Thank god my skirt, fishnets, and stilettos were already on. I'm not bending down for anything, sitting's going to be enough of a problem.

I looked down. The long skirt brushed the floor in the three-inch heals. Now all I've got to concentrate on is not killing myself going down stairs or out on the dance floor. That would be embarrassing.

There was a knock on the door. Hermione answered the door as my gaze drifted to my prophecy. The label read:

Lita, Harry Potter, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

M. R. G. to S. R. S.

My grandmother made this prophecy; my favorite teacher heard it. I should have known last year I'd meet Harry, but I never put two and two together.

It glowed innocently as Ron asked if we were coming.

I put on the last accessory to my ensemble: a spiked collar, and followed Hermione out, extinguishing the candles as I shut the door.

I stopped dead seeing Harry. My god, that man is...sexy. He wore a fishnet shirt with tight leather pants and combat boots. Girls were going to hate me for this.
~*~*~*~

My mouth went dry as she walked out of her room. I was right when I said she had a nice body, but I didn't know it was that nice. No, not nice, naughty.

She wore a leather bustier with red lace and ribbon and a really long leather skirt. She looked like she was three or so inches taller as well. Anyway, she's bloody fucking hot.

She was a little unsteady as she walked over to me, if I hadn't been closely watching her, I wouldn't have even noticed.

Jeff nudged my arm and pointed at her. Like I hadn't noticed!

"Wow," I whispered fully aware that she could hear me. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. "You look amazing," I whispered.

"Thanks," she murmured. "Are we going to be doing much dancing?"

Not if I can help it. "I'm not a fan of it myself so, if you want. Why?"

She pulled away and lifter her skirt to her knee. She was wearing thin 3" heals--was she insane? How was she even walking?--from the heal, two thin leather straps wrapped around her leg until tying up at her knee. And the black fishnets that disappeared somewhere above what she was showing.

I swallowed. Wow. I cleared my throat. "Ready?" I asked not wanting to go anymore (not that I ever did.)

I put my arm around her small waist and guided her out of the common room. She looked up at me oddly. "You're helping me walk?"

"You weren't very steady coming out of your room, so I figured I'd help."

She smiled and kissed my cheek as we neared the Great Hall.
~*~*~*~

He Great Hall looked amazing! There were small round tables taking the place of the regular four House Tables. Rows of house elves were standing along the wall waiting.

We found a table and the six of us--Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ernie, Jeff and I--sat down.

My eyes drifted back to the house elves. I'm not entirely sure about how to feel about them. Serving is what they want; it's what they crave for. But the way they are treated by some is horrific. I would do something, but how do you help those who don't want it?

Menus appeared in front of us as we sat down. I opened my menu and flipped through the pages. Seafood, beef, chicken, and vegetables made up the first few pages. When I turned the last page, I was shocked. A full page of Elven meals that quite possibly no one here had ever heard of.

I was suddenly homesick. My father has always been the cook in our family, mostly because of his lack of willingness to try human food. He always said that humans were never creative enough in their cooking and never had enough flavor.

I scanned the page looking for something familiar or a favorite dish. Nothing I knew was on the menu, so I turned back a few pages.

"Is this--what is this?" Harry asked me pointing to a dish I couldn't even read the name of. I knew Celtic Elvish, but that was it. There are as many forms of the one language as there were countries. I shrugged. "I don't know," I answered slowly. "Must be a from a European or Asian Clan of Elves, not one I know."

"You mean it's all different?" Hermione asked amazed. "Like human languages?"

"Every creature does."

Trust me to bring elvish wisdom to the teenage conversation.

"Mr. Harry Potter, sir," a house elf squeaked. Damn high noises. "Can Dobby take your orders sir?"

Harry nodded and we ordered. Dobby vanished and reappeared seconds later with our meals.

As Dobby lowered our plates one by one in front of us, he glanced up at my ears and nearly dropped the tray. This is what I get for pulling my hair behind my ears.

"The prophecy..." he breathed. "Tis true, the prophecy..."

"What prophecy?" Harry asked. I looked across the table and met Hermione's eyes. She knew what prophecy Dobby was talking about. She's seen the orb after all.
~*~*~*~

Not another prophecy, please Merlin, not another damned prophecy.

"The prophecy, Mr. Harry Potter, sir. The miss is the one to help the Marked Man triumph over He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We house elves has waited years for Miss, and here she is!"

Shit.

"Where is it, Dobby?" I asked. "This prophecy?"

"I have it," Lita whispered.

"What?" I asked joined by four others. I looked at Hermione. "You knew?" I asked.

"It's kind of hard for her not to know," Lita answered. "The damn thing's sitting on my desk."

"Why do you have it? Why isn't it at the Ministry?" I asked. There weren't any others with my name on it, so I'm assuming there is a reason she has it.

"In America, when a person who has a prophecy turns 16, the prophecy is given to them. My prophecy was made in America, so it was mailed to me on my birthday. I don't even know what it says...."

"...Marked Man..." I said thinking.

"Yeah," she said. "You."

"What?" the other guys demanded. Again, Hermione knew more than what she was saying.

"And?" I asked dreading the answer. She leaned back in her chair and looked up at the enchanted ceiling. She sighed and closed her eyes. "Yes," she answered.

So Voldemort was a part of this as well. Great. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked roughly.

"What was I supposed to do?" she whispered harshly shooting daggers at me. "Say 'hey, guess what, Harry, I've got a prophecy with our names on it?' the fucking subject never came up!"

"I'm sorry," I amended. "I didn't mean--"

"You didn't think," she interrupted me calmly. She's right, I didn't.

She picked up her fork and pushed around the leaves of her salad before jabbing her fork into a tomato and bringing it to her lips. I looked away before she ate it, turning my attention to my own meal.

I forced myself to eat a bit of my steak, just so I didn't starve to death. I'm getting sick of forcing myself to eat; I wish I'd be actually hungry once in a while.

Half an hour later, the tables and chairs vanished, a bar appeared at one wall, and on the raised platform where the teachers usually ate, a set of drums, two guitars, a base, a keyboard, and a microphone appeared.

Six of the Ravenclaws departed from the crown and went to their respective instruments. Padma Patil stood behind the mic wearing a black vest, an electronic blue mini-skirt, and thigh-high boots. Terry Boot also joined, sitting behind the drums. He too wore black and blue, as did Mandy Bracklehurst (base), Lisa Turpin (acoustic), and Anthony Goldstein (electric).

Padma cleared her throat. "Erm.... We're Hells Bells, and that's what this song's called. Ready?" she asked Terry.

He nodded. "1" he called out hitting the sticks together in time with the beat "2, 1234!"

Padma's voice rang out above the music as she sang the words of the song.

"Hells bells are ringin'

Everyday they're ringin'

Someone dies a singin'

Cause hell's bells are ringin'

He's lying' on the ground

The bells are his only sound

The girl is dead, he loved her not

Her life was somethin' that couldn't be bought!"

Most everyone had started to dance now, liking the sound the Ravenclaws produced. It seemed some of the students had heard the band before and were singing along with Padma, who didn't have a bad voice. She sounded good, even when she screamed the words.

I looked over at Lita as Padma reverted back to the chorus. She looked like she was in no way going to dance to this song. Fine by me.

"It's way to fast," she said when she noticed my gaze.

We walked over to the bar and again, I had my arm around her waist, helping her balance. How and why women do the things they do is entirely beyond me.

"I am sorry," I said again as we each reached for a Butterbeer. "About earlier."

She shrugged and leaned into me. "No worries," she said softly.

"This one's called 'Do You Know'," Padma said interrupting us.

A few notes played from the keyboard before being joined by the a acoustic and drums.

"The world is full of many different people

The sky is full of many stars

In my eyes I have just one hero

And only you know who you are"

I led Lita out onto the dance floor and we swayed slowly, revolving in a circle.

"I was lost until the day you found me

You saved me from the cold dark streets

Now you're my one and only love

And I wonder...

Do you know that you're my hero?

Do you know how much I love you?

Do you know that you're my savior?

Do you know how much I care?"

Our eyes met and locked as the words of the song sank in during the instrumental break. They fit us. We were both lost in our own cold, dark world. We saved eachother, and I love her more than anything else in the world, ever.
~*~*~*~

"The miles that separate us

They just don't matter anymore

'Cause my love for you will only grow

And link us 'round the world."

Someone or something brought us together. We were literally worlds apart until Dumbledore decided to ask for foreign exchange students. That made this song fit us more than it already did. If we were to ever be miles--or worlds--apart again, I would still love him, now and forever.

"Do you know that you're my hero?

Do you know how much I love you?

Do you know that you're my savior?

Do you know how much I care?"

We stopped dancing. Slowly, Harry brought his lips to mine...