One Last Chance

Chapter 3: Dreams and Surprise Guests

I finally opened my eyes. "R-Really?" I stammered.

Oh, you knew it all along. Don't play dumb.

He smiled that smile I loved. I admit it, whenever he turned that smile on me, it made me realize that he was more than just my closest friend.

He was my --

Soulmate.

Oh, shut up, you; he is not.

You sure?

I continued to ignore that voice in my head as it told me that I needed psychiatric help. I talked to myself too much.

I sighed, exhausted. "So, Harry, what exactly happened earlier?"

Harry bit his lip. "Well..." His eyes flickered away from mine.

"Well...?"

He glanced around at our surroundings; a few people were milling about, not too many, but I understood that this kind of thing needed privacy. Wordlessly, we rose, and left.

It wasn't too long before we had arrived at the gardens by the Forbidden Forest. There were a few benches scattered around, but the area was deserted. Tentatively I sat down, and Harry plopped down next to me. Not looking up, he began his story.

"When Ron and you and me were all walking along after we'd come out of Honeydukes, you asked me what was on my mind..."

I nodded, recalling his silence as Ron had chattered away.

"Truth to tell, I was thinking about asking you to the Yule Ball."

I blushed slightly, but he was staring out into the forest. He continued.

"All of a sudden, I heard this far-off rumbling..." At this, I leaned closer, anxious, for I had heard it too.

"And then my scar exploded in pain, almost worse than it ever has before. Of course, I collapsed."

He broke off, and examined the ground. I could tell he wasn't finished, so I stayed quiet.

"When I collapsed...I wasn't quite unconscious...I was in this dream, but it was more than a dream...I was kind of living it. It was really weird. And it was...well...awful, because it was so realistic..."

His voice was thick, almost as if he was about to cry. I didn't push him, thinking it was probably a memory of his parents.

"It was the Yule Ball. As in the upcoming one."

I closed my eyes, dreading what was coming.

"I had asked you to go with me. You accepted. And this slow song was playing, and everybody was dancing; you and me were in this far-off corner, and it was really nice...until...suddenly all the lights went out, and everybody screamed, and got their wands out all at the same time, including me, and said 'Lumos' at the same time...so that the room lit up and half the people had disappeared. You were gone...It was so creepy...and this deep, hissing voice that echoed in the Great Hall said 'Mudbloods always go first'...and then there was this one, bloodcurdling scream that seemed to come from everywhere at once...And then I woke up, or whatever, and that Adam was standing over me. You know the rest."

I sat in shock. Harry was now hunched over, examining the hem of his robes. I couldn't believe it.

"Harry, you have to tell Dumbledore...what if Voldemort's back? That could mean...oh, Christ, Harry, that's horrible..."

He looked up at me then, and that unfathomable emerald gaze was enough to take my breath away. I saw, in those eyes, a knowing that a storm was coming but an acceptance, a courage. I saw concern, but no fear. And, unless I'm mistaken...love.

You nitwit, you're going just as friends.

But he never said that.

For once, the jeering, pessimistic part of me had no answer.

Then it hit me.

"Why in the world did you ask me to go with you, after that awful dream thing?"

He blinked. "You really think I'd let some kooky dream stop me from taking my best friend to the Yule Ball?"

I stared at him. "Harry -- "

And the second good thing to happen to me that day happened. But only for a second.

Harry leaned forward and briefly touched his lips to mine.

He then sat back, completely casual, as if nothing had happened. "Never, not ever. That dream was probably just from eating too much candy and junk...now how about we go back to the common room and finish up our homework?"

I was reeling.

Just sitting there, head spinning in blind disbelief.

That's all.

"Okay," I answered.

Then I collapsed.

When I came to, I was in the common room on the couch, Ron peering concernedly into my face.

"Harry said you fainted...Didn't say why, though...Carried you all the way up here...Blimey, what's going on around here?"

Despite myself, I grinned at Ron's unknowing worry. "Never mind. Nothing you'd be interested in."

* * *

Time until the Yule Ball went by so quickly it seemed as if someone had bewitched all the clocks. On Saturday, December 22^nd, one week after Harry's collapse in Hogsmeade, it was if he'd never asked me to the ball. It was as if he'd never given me that all too brief kiss. I was beginning to think I'd imagined it all -- Ron still teased us (I wonder if Harry told him about the kiss?), but things were the way they always had been -- three best friends who would always stay just that.

After breakfast that morning, many of the teachers looked unusually excited. The Great Hall looked nicer, too -- cleaner, and prettier. Sunlight was streaming cheerily down from the enchanted ceiling, and the walls gleamed with never-melting icicles. There were the usual twelve Christmas trees scattered around; one was decorated with tiny, moving suits of armor that sang Christmas carols when someone walked by them, and another was decorated with the gifts from the twelve days of Christmas -- except everything was alive. Four wee calling birds, three hens that cluck-clucked with a French accent, two cooing turtle doves, and a partridge munching pears were just a few of the many trimmings on it.

Harry, who was sitting across from me, had also noticed the decorations; he was staring, amused, as snowflakes drifted down from the sunny "sky". "What is this, a sunny blizzard?"

Just then as we were all getting ready to leave, Albus Dumbledore stood and a hush fell over the crowded Great Hall.

"Many of you have probably noticed that we are a little more, well, spiffy this morning."

There were murmurs of agreement.

"Well, as Headmaster, I am pleased to announce that Hogwarts will be welcoming eight exchange students from Chudley-Silverwand Academy today!"

A ripple of excitement went through the Hall. Harry, Ron, and I looked at each other, all wondering the same thing. People began whispering eagerly. Dumbledore continued.

"Two 7^th-year representatives were randomly selected from each House and were sent to Silverwand. Two new CSWA students will be taking their places until June. Of course, they will be back in time for the end-of-year tests."

Everyone laughed.

"Now, on with the students! Please hold all applause until I'm done.

"From Hufflepuff, Ernie MacMillan and Susan Bones were selected; please welcome Maria Benish and Alex Coffey!

I watched a girl with flaming red hair and a boy with dark hair enter the Great Hall as Dumbledore went on. They were both wearing silver robes. The crests bore a silver wand emitting red sparks on a gold background.

"For Slytherin, Austin Webster and Sharmarie Lane will be taking the place of Marcus Flint and Pansy Parkinson!"

A tall, blond boy and girl entered with smug grins on their faces. Draco Malfoy looked particularly annoyed that he hadn't been chosen. I smirked.

From Ravenclaw, Chad Thompson and Cho Chang will be replaced by Patrick Toney and Kayla Baldwin!"

A short, blonde boy and brunette girl entered. I snuck a glance at Harry to see if he had reacted to Cho's selection. His face showed no traces of disappointment.

Good.

"And finally, from Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom and Katie Bell will be substituted by Adam Rowling and Vicki Briggs!"

Harry and I looked at each other at the same time; Adam and Vicki appeared next to all the other exchange students and grinned at us. The Great Hall now broke out with thunderous applause as the students made their way to their guest tables. As soon as they approached us, Harry, Ron, and I were questioning Adam and Vicki.

"How long have you known you were coming?"

"Ever since we saw you in Hogsmeade that day!"

"How'd you manage Gryffindor?"

"Heh heh, we volunteered!"

"So, how are things going? Who's going with who to the Yule Ball?"

All at once the five of us went silent. Vicki had asked the question, and she now surveyed Harry and me mischievously. Harry cleared his throat.

"I'm going with Hermione," he said casually.

Blushing, I noticed Ron, Vicki, and Adam all exchange grins.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," I said wryly, as everyone laughed.