Harry Potter and the Chest of Death

Chapter 6: Dancing, Dreaming, and a Golden Quill

The Great Hall had been transformed into an enormous Ball Room. Instead of its usual four long tables, there were many round ones along the edges of the room. Candles softly lit the space around them, and the ceiling was a starry night. Harry quickly spotted Ron waving them over to table four.

He and Michelle sat down, and everyone began conversing. It turned out that Melinda was their age, but she had started school late. A short time after they had seated themselves, Hermione came over with a very tall young man. He had black hair and eyes, and his complexion was a little lighter than medium. He was wearing a tux, and Hermione had on a blue dress that didn't have a large ball gown-ish bottom. It was simple, and it suited her well.

"This is Kevin," Hermione announced to them all. "Kevin this is Harry, Michelle, Ron, and his date Melinda."

"Hey," Harry said. "Nice to meet you." Ron made a mumbling noise, and Melinda just smiled at Kevin.

"Hello," Michelle said with a very large smile.

Hermione looked all around, and then said, "Well, I'll see you all on the dance floor?"

"Step, step, back-step," Ron responded. Hermione raised her eyebrows in an unusual way, and walked away.

"Want some punch?" Harry asked everyone at the table. Melinda and Michelle did, but otherwise Neville and the others were just eyeing the people that were dancing, or at least those who were trying to dance.

"I'll help you," Ron said as he abruptly got up, shaking the table a little. They headed over to the punch table where Malfoy was unfortunately getting something to drink as well. "O brother," Ron muttered under his breath.

Malfoy was beaming, and Harry knew he had something to say. "Well Potter and Weasley...got anything good to say or do you need those wrenches with you?"

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy," Harry said sharply. "I don't need any help when it comes to you."

"Didn't look that way when you came in," Malfoy shot back. "I saw you gripping her hand like a little baby. I'll admit though, she does clean up nice. Maybe I'll ask her to dance..."

"Stay away from her," Harry said as he filled the last cup. They walked away, but Harry knew he shouldn't have made that last remark. With Malfoy, any sign of emotion is a sign of weakness. Even so, he went back to the table with Ron, smiling.

Michelle drank from her cup quickly, before she said, "I want to dance."

"Okay," Harry said as she was already getting up. "Are we going to do it the book way?"

"Nah," she answered. "This is a fast song. Let's just go out there and boogie." She did a disco dancer impression as she said this, and Harry chuckled.

In moments they were on the dance floor, and Harry was doing his best not to look like a fool. But, just a short while after they had begun to get their "groove on (as Michelle referred to it as)" a slow song came on.

"Okay," she said as she looked at his feet. "We can do this."

"Ron said that when we were dancing in the dormitory it looked like we were on a cloud. I'd say that sounds like we're good dancers to me."

"He really said that?" Michelle asked him. Harry nodded in response. Michelle's cheeks flushed, and she squeezed Harry's hand slightly. They danced silently, only looking in each other's eyes.

When the song stopped they returned to their table, and the settings had been put out. There were glittering candles, and sparkling glasses galore. Dumbledore stood up, and tapped his glass.

"Welcome to the First Annual Winter Ball. It seems to me that everyone is having a good time," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, and a smile could be seen under his beard. "The celebration will last until midnight, at which time we must all go to bed and dream of the wonderful time that we had here." Harry gulped. He hadn't dreamt of Voldemort since that night with the Chest, but he always went to sleep with a pang of worry. "Now, we've prepared a feast fit for ten thousand kings, but I'm sure all of you will have no problem devouring it yourselves." The tables all filled with a variety of food. Everyone began to pile it on their plates eagerly, and with mouths watering. After the food had been served, the music began again, and Malfoy walked over.

"Michelle," Malfoy said (seeming at bit uncomfortable with using her first name, as it was almost a sign of respect). "Would you like to dance?"

Michelle didn't look up from her plate, "No thank you," she said with an icy tone that even made Harry shiver.

"Are you afraid that you'll make a fool of yourself? Come on," Draco said as a shifty smile crept across his face, "I dare you."

"If you'll leave me alone afterwards, okay." Draco nodded to show that he would, and Michelle got up. "I'll be right back," she whispered to Harry who was clenching his fists under the table.

They walked out onto the dance floor, and as they did the pace of the music slowed. Draco awkwardly put his arm around Michelle's waist, and she frowned slightly. They started to dance, and Harry watched with the rest of the seated students. He could tell that Draco was saying something to Michelle, but Harry couldn't really read his lips. Draco smiled and whispered something in Michelle's ear. After so doing, she kneed him in his crotch and stomped out of the Ball Room/Great Hall.

Draco was on the floor in the fetal position as Harry got up. "I'm going to see what happened," he told Ron who was laughing hysterically. Harry departed from the Great Hall and found Michelle pacing right outside the doors. When she saw Harry she just froze. "What happened?" he asked her, his eyes searching her face for the answer.

"He was surprisingly nice in the beginning," Michelle said as she resumed her step. "But then he said something that was completely inappropriate, and I didn't like it at all."

"What did he say?" Harry's mind was running rampant with possibilities, each of which made him want to pound Malfoy.

"You'll get angry," Michelle said as she again paused from her anxious stride. "I don't want us both to be in trouble..."

"I won't get mad," Harry responded to her. Even as he said it, he knew it wouldn't be true.

"Well," Michelle began as she stepped closer to Harry, "he said he saw us holding hands when we came in, as if that's a crime! After he said that, he asked me if I had kissed you, and I said it was none of his business what I do. Then he made this sinister smile and said 'I bet you have. You seem like the kind of whore that would'. I didn't know what to say, so I gave him a shock to the groin."

Harry let out a deep breath that he didn't realize he was holding in, and tried to hold back his anger. He looked at Michelle who had a hurt expression on her face, and he forgot about Draco. "You're not," Harry said as he embraced her. "He's a jerk. Let's go back in there and have fun. I don't want Draco or anyone else to spoil this."

She pulled out of the hug and said simply, "Okay."

They held onto each other's hands, and Michelle squeezed Harry's tightly. He opened the door and they walked in and the room hushed. Luckily their table was right by the door, so Harry and Michelle quickly sat down. No sooner had they, when Snape came over with McGonagall and Dumbledore.

"Miss Swift," McGonagall said sternly, "We wish to see you outside for a moment. Michelle got up and looked at Harry with eyes that were watery. The four of them left the Ball Room, and stayed out for no more than five minutes. They returned and Michelle shuffled back to the table.

"They're not going to do anything," Michelle whispered to Harry. "They think what he got is adequate punishment for what he said. Although, I don't think Snape agreed with that."

The rest of the night passed with glee, and Ron even managed to dance with Melinda without crushing her feet. The incident with Draco was forgotten almost as quickly as it happened, and before Harry knew it, he was saying hushed goodbyes to Michelle in the Common Room. He kissed her on her forehead, and he went to bed.

Because of the dream involving Voldemort, Harry had made a ritual of thinking about Quidditch or something trivial before he went to bed, in case Voldemort might be listening. However, Harry was so full of rich and wonderful thoughts tonight that he forgot to. He fell asleep almost immediately, and it wasn't long before he was dreaming.

He was at the Ball again. This time there was only one other person there. Someone was lying in the familiar position on the dance floor. Harry walked over to them. The air was misty, and he was expecting to see Draco. Harry turned the figure onto its back, and was horrified to see Voldemort in all his evil glory.

"You've done a good job of hiding your thoughts from me," he said with his familiar and snake-like voice. Harry felt nauseous. "I will get that Chest. Even you, the indestructible hero, will not be able to stop me."

"It's not what you think it is," Harry said.

"What is it then?" Voldemort asked. Harry was too quick for him. He had put his mind on something distracting, and found himself thinking of the ball.

"You're getting quite good at pulling your thoughts away from the surface," Voldemort said as he towered over Harry. "What are you thinking of?" Harry made the mistake of bringing the memory to the outer shell of his mind, and Voldemort made an eerie smile. "Is she your weak spot?" Harry's eyes widened and he did his best to think about Quidditch, but the worry wouldn't let him. "She is, isn't she?" If Voldemort hadn't taken away his humanity, anyone could say he looked almost giddy. "You've made a mistake in letting me know this, but as long as I get that Chest without your interference, and as soon as it's mine, she is safe. That is, for now."

Harry woke up to hear himself screaming out in anger, and everyone in the Dormitory was looking at him with both shock and worry. Harry distracted himself by looking at the stained glass window near his bed, and they eventually looked away, and some left. It was Saturday, and Harry held contempt for the dream that had probably ruined his entire weekend.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Ron was sitting on Harry's trunk, and he was obviously fiddling with a piece of parchment.

Harry recounted his dream as best he could for Ron, who listened quietly. After he had finished, Ron tore up the small piece of paper, and looked at Harry with nothing but concern.

"Do you think that maybe this is just something you're doing in your head? Like, maybe it isn't really You-Know-Who?" Ron's tone was hopeful, if not full of fear. Harry shook his head. "I don't know what to say, Harry."

At that moment Michelle walked into the Dormitory, and eyed them suspiciously. "Are you guys going to get dressed and come down for breakfast?" she asked with deep wariness in her voice. "Hermione and I have been waiting for probably ten minutes already." Her eyes kept darting from Harry to Ron, and her nervousness was unmistakable in her gaze.

"We'll be right down," Harry said as he tried to hide his fear. Today would not be an easy day. "We were just talking about the canceled Quidditch."

*

The Great Hall was almost empty, as Harry and his friends had taken to eating breakfast late. Those who were still there chatted merrily about the Ball last night, and some people were even making plans for the Summer Dance.

"What took you so long?" Hermione asked as Harry sat down. "We were waiting so long."

Ron answered Hermione quickly, "We were debating whether we should go to Madam Hooch and see if we can get Quidditch back..." Ron smiled nervously, and Harry knew that it must be hard for him to lie to one of his best friends. In an attempt to change the subject, he set the conversation on Michelle. "I saw what you did to Malfoy last night. Excellent. I'm sure that he deserved it."

"Why didn't you get in trouble?" Hermione questioned. "You didn't get around to telling me last night."

"I didn't want to say anything," Michelle said as she picked at her plate. "Harry, why are you looking at me like that?"

Harry hadn't noticed that his watch was unusual, but after she had said this, he noticed that he was looking at her with tremendous concern. Quick to respond, Harry said, "It's nothing. I think I ate some bad eggs. You know, indigestion..."

"Oh, okay," Michelle replied to him. She didn't look away from him, but she directed her next comment to the group: "It's almost the holidays, and I wanted to know what each of you want as a gift. Dad's given me a load a galleons through the post, and I've been dying to spend it. I figure I'll get you all something on the next trip to Hogsmeade."

"Hmm," Ron said as he rubbed his chin in an entirely comical way, "I think I'd like some candy or something from the joke shop."

"You don't have to get me a gift," Hermione said. Michelle made a noise that sounded like she clicked with her tongue, and Hermione said, "Okay, if you have to get me something, I'd like...a book. Something I haven't read before."

"What do you want Harry?" Michelle asked him. "You should blink, your eyes are drying out."

"I'm sorry," Harry said as he rubbed them. "What were you talking about?"

"Christmas gifts."

"O, I don't need anything. Chocolate frogs would be great though."

*

Harry was alone in the Dormitory and it was nearing lunchtime. Michelle had challenged Ron to game of Wizard Chess, and they were playing the Common Room. Hermione was brushing up on her Alchemy homework, and Harry had stolen some time for himself. He put on his Invisibility Cloak, and crept into the down into the Common Room. He stood by the portrait hole until it opened, and he slunk out into the corridor.

It had begun to rain in early afternoon, and the light that was coming into the castle had a gray and gloomy texture to it. Harry moved quite easily through the corridors, until he came upon the Slytherine dungeon. When a student exited, Harry took the opportunity, and entered. Hardly anyone was in here, probably because lunch had just been served. Harry didn't see Crabbe or Goyle anywhere, which he took as a sign that Draco might be gone too.

He found his way into what seemed to be the 5^th year boys' dormitory, and he found a trunk with D.M. on it. He lifted the lid effortlessly, and he looked around. There were the usual books and loose clothing items, but Harry saw something that interested him: a quill made entirely of gold. Harry stuck it under the cloak, and left the Slytherine room without a noise. He raced back to the Common Room where it wasn't long before someone came through the portrait hole, and Harry had time to squeeze through. He tiptoed up to the dormitory, where he took off the cloak, and examined the quill.

It was gold, but it was still as light as a feather. Harry knew it must be something precious to Draco, and he also knew that keeping it would not be wise. Harry stuck it between the pages of one of his books, and headed for the library.

Upon reaching the library, Harry headed to a secluded corner, and pushed the quill between two books on the shelve. He left it sticking out enough so it would be easily noticed, and he checked out a copy of "Interesting Charms to Trick Your Friends" so that he wouldn't seem suspicious. He then hurried back to the Common Room, and joined his friends.

It was obvious that the game of chess had ended, because Ron was beaming as he collected his pieces.

"Good game?" Harry asked as he carried the large book over towards them.

"Just great," Michelle said as she looked at the board in disbelief. "An interesting choice of reading, Harry..." she was pointing to his book now.

"O," he said as he looked at it, "just something to keep me occupied.

"Is it a good read?" Ron questioned him. "You're smiling like the cat that caught the rat."

"You could say that," Harry said as he thought of his little prank. It wasn't as good as Michelle getting Draco where it hurts most, but it still had weight. "I'm just really, really happy." At least he could say that he had done something.

"Getting in the holiday spirit?" Michelle asked. "That's good. Personally, I can't wait for Christmas, even if it didn't turn out like I thought it would." She looked distant at that moment, and Harry could tell her mind was somewhere else. Then, she snapped back, "When we go to the village, we should all go separate so we can buy gifts, and still have them be a surprise. How about we meet for a butterbeer after we're done?"

"Sounds good to me," Ron said as he rubbed his stomach. "Besides, Harry still owes us a round since we helped him out at the library. I didn't forget."

Harry laughed at this, and they headed down to the Great Hall to enjoy each other's company, and plan what to do over the free Christmas holidays.