Harry Potter and the Return of the Dark Ages

Chapter-6

TRYOUTS AND THE PREDICTION

There was cataclysm in the Great Hall. "Tryouts for the school team will be taking place next week in the evenings. The team will be escorted to Durmstrang Institute by some teachers, some prefects and the Head Boy. The players, please note, will be chosen considering their performance at the school matches and the tryouts. You may continue your dinner," finished Dumbledore and sat down.

But nobody was now keen in finishing their dinner, for they were too excited to talk among themselves about the forthcoming matches. They were so engrossed in the talks that they didn't notice a stunningly blue- haired witch enter the Hall. It was only when Dumbledore taped his goblet that the students noticed the witch's presence.

"May I introduce to you, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Miss Nymphadora Tonks- an Auror at the Ministry Of Magic," said Dumbledore, wearing an amused expression at Tonks' blue hair.

The students applauded for her, with Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny clapping loudest. Tonks saw them and winked at them. Ginny laughed and returned her wink.

"As I see that the dinner is finished, a few more notices," continued Dumbledore, noticing the untouched plated of the students, "Firstly, the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all. Mr. Argus Filch, our caretaker has yet again reminded me to announce that no magic is allowed in the corridors, and that a short list of forbidden items, topped by the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, is on the door of his office. Now you may leave."

Harry, Ron and Hermione started towards the Common Room, talking of each other's chances of going to Durmstrang. Harry was particularly amused at Ron. In the afternoon, he was shouting his head off at poor Hermione, and now here he was, talking with her about his chances as a Keeper.

But soon, that too led to squabbling among the two. Harry shook his head exasperatedly and gave the Fat lady the password ('memorabilix'), and entered the Common Room, with the two bickering at his side. He saw Ginny sitting alone, so he accosted her. "Hi!" he said.

"Hi!" she replied, shoveling a stack of parchment aside to make place for him.

"So, are you going to try for the tryouts?" Harry asked.

"Obviously not!" she said flatly. "I don't stand a chance. But I hope to join you all to Durmstrang as a Prefect. One plus point of being a Prefect," she smiled seriously. Harry thought he saw an extra glint in her eyes, but didn't ask her.

***

The next morning Ron and Harry quickly got dressed and went to the Great Hall. Hermione and Ginny were already having their breakfast. The mice in Harry's stomach did a high -five at seeing her there.

"Here are your new time-tables," said Hermione, flipping over their time-tables to them and breaking Harry's undeterred train of unwanted thoughts.

Ron scanned his time-table. "That's a good one they have made in ages, with every afternoon free except Tuesday. But ... look what a messy timetable we've got today - double Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts - all in one day!" he groaned. Hermione rolled her eyes, but Harry agreed with Ron.

As it was late for Transfiguration, they quickly finished their breakfast, bid Ginny bye and rushed to their classroom. Five minutes later, McGonagall came striding into the class. "Except some, all of you have done quite well in your OWLs, even you Longbottom. And not to mention Miss Granger here," (Hermione blushed) "who obtained 17 OWLs - 50 points to Gryffindor for her brilliant performance." The class cheered for her.

But the rest of the class was very dull. The rest whole hour and a half of their class were dedicated to NEWTs and their importance. When the bell rang, they were too happy to get out of the class and move towards the dungeons for Potions.

"Settle down," said Snape, entering their class and shutting the door behind him. The class fell silent the same instant.

He continued, "Some of you have done extremely above my expectations. But the misfortunes-" his eyes swiveled to Harry. "-some of us may not bid good-bye. I do not take students except on 'O' in Potions, but unfortunately, this year is filled with such dunderheads that only ten students scraped on 'O' in Potions. So I have to now accept also those with an 'E'," he sighed, as if in pain.

"Today, we will be brewing a potion that often comes in Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests: The Truth Potion. But be warned- don't be heavy handed or you may put the drinker in an irreversibly reverie," He gazed at Harry, as if willing him to do so. Harry stared back at him with confidence. "The ingredients are in the cupboard and the method on the board. You may start."

As usual Snape had set the fiddliest potion he could. It was very hard as the ingredients were strangest Harry had ever seen and even contained some living animals. The intervals for the changes during the brewing were very short with the shortest interval being ten seconds.

"Your potions should be ready now, being as clear as water, with no characteristic smell," drawled Snape, near the end of class.

To Harry's complete surprise, his potion was very clear- not as clear as water but near to it. Snape came sweeping over to look at his potions but went quickly, finding no complaint (Harry let out a sigh of relief and surprise at this).

At Ron's cauldron, however, Snape stopped and looked down at it with an ominous smirk on his face. "Tell me Weasley, how much Lew-wings I asked you to use?" he asked, amidst the laughter from the Slytherins.

Ron gulped, recognising his mistake. "Er-20 gms, but I dropped 22," he said despondently.

"I know you did. This is an absolute mess of a potion. But...perhaps it would teach you to pay attention if we tested this on you," Snape sneered as the Slytherins howled with laughter. Harry and Hermione exchanged dark looks. This potion was definitely going to put Ron in trouble.

But there was no escape and he had to drink the entire goblet-full of his violet coloured potion. His expression changed from trepidation to that of a look which reminded Harry strongly of Luna. He gave an aura of extreme dottiness.

"Tell me Weasley, about your least- favourite person," asked Snape.

Hermione and Harry groaned as they felt their worst fears coming true. Ron's least favourite person was Snape himself.

"It is none other than you. You - are- an- ugly- git..." Ron started, "You- have- no- sense- and- I - prefer- your- company- as much- to that- of a- Blast-Ended Skrewt," went Ron on and on, until Snape had the sense to give him the antidote.

Ron came to his normal self and looked at the dead silent class, with Malfoy and his gang having smirks over their faces. He knew he had said something terribly wrong.

"10 points from Gryffindor and a Detention for your misbehaviour Weasley," Snape spat and turned to rest class. "Leave a well- labeled sample of your potions. Homework: 10 inches of parchment on the properties of Lew-wings and paillard, and their importance in Truth potion, to be handed on Friday. Class dismissed."

"What happened? What did I say?" Ron asked in dismissal, coming out of the dungeons.

Hermione laughed mockingly. "You said nothing wrong Ron, except that your least favourite person was Snape and you preferred his company as much as you prefer that of a Blast Ended Skrewt," she said.

Ron's face fell. "What a jolly first day of the school!"

***

After their Defence Against the Dark Arts class, they went to the Great Hall for lunch and found a notice on the board in the Entrance Hall. Ron read the message aloud over the crowd-

"The tryouts for the Quidditch team will be held from seventh of September," he read along the dates for practises and exclaimed, "Blimey, Harry it mentions that four days are allotted to each team for practice and today it is our chance!"

Harry was surprised. "But how will we practice with only one chaser?"

***

At about 5'o clock that evening, Harry and Ron came down to the Quidditch pitch, their broomsticks on their shoulders, followed by Hermione (who agreed to even shoot for the sake of their Keeper's practice). But they were surprised to find not only Katie, but also many other Gryffindors waiting for them.

"What's going on here?" Ron asked, reaching over to Ginny, who was standing in the front.

She smiled. "Nothing! We obviously wanted our players more! And we've got only one Chaser, so my fellow Gryffindors here volunteered to help practice. Don't look like that at me, it was not my idea!"

"So," Ginny turned to the Gryffindors. "As we have the same dignified idea- to give as many Gryffindors in the team as we can- we'll first just warm up. After that, we'll shoot. Any doubts? No, then we start," Ginny announced and flew her new Chaser's Choise, the latest broomstick for Chasers- given to her by Fred and George on her birthday.

After the warm up, every body made a line and by turns took to shoot. Ron was playing good, but went wrong a few times when the players put a new technique. Soon, Ginny realising his weakness, made groups and told them to use as many new tricks as possible to goal past Ron.

Ron at first played quite bad at this, but slowly improvised as he got the gist of some tricks and moves.

"Oi Ron. RON! You need to concentrate on the players and their moves, not what they look like they're going to do!!" Ginny shouted, after Ron missed a goal, thinking that Harry was going to throw the Quaffle in the right goal-post. Ron nodded, going red in ears.

After the dusk, Ron wanted to continue practice, but Ginny looked about to faint and the rest Gryffindors were also slowly sneaking back. So, Harry and Hermione had to push him to the Common room and make him do home-work set by Snape and Tonks ('write a note on common Defence spells used and their disadvantages').

***

On the sixth, they quickly went to the Common Room after the dinner to see the dates for the tryouts. It read-

QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS

THE TEAM TRYOUTS WILL BE HELD ON -

7 September- For Keepers and Chasers

8 September- For Beaters

9 September- for Seekers

The tryouts will be held in the supervision of the Heads of Houses and Madam Hooch. Other students may come to see the tryouts. All candidates must arrive at the Quidditch pitch at 5:00 p.m. sharp. Classes will not be held till 10^th September. Reserve players will be selected at the same time, and the results will be announced on 10 September.

Ron read the message and quietly dragged his feet up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Harry made to go after him, but Hermione grabbed his arm. "Don't go upstairs, let him digest the news and think about it on his own. Just try to cool him tomorrow. He'll be nervous today and won't listen. Tomorrow he'll understand," she said, still gripping his arm. Harry nodded, so they took out their homework and Harry wrote his furniture essay ('Write the importance of wand movements in simple furniture spells').

***

The next day, around 5'o clock, they rushed to the Quidditch pitch, to practice a bit beforehand. Hermione and Harry wished Ron luck, and went to the stands to find a place. There was not much crowd in the stands for the tryouts, so they easily found a place near Ginny and her group of fifth years.

"Hi Harry!" Ginny greeted.

"Hi, Ginny," Harry replied, looking at Ron standing there, nervously. Ginny looked where he was looking.

"He'll be alright, just pray that Davies-"

"Ooh- it's the same Potty, with the Weasley, now," someone said sardonically behind him. Harry and Hermione groaned together, while Ginny smirked, anticipating something which Harry could not. It was Malfoy, as usual sandwiched between his two cronies,who now looked like two midget-tolls.

"Potter, you definitely have dire choices. First with that Chang, Diggory's left over, now this red- headed ragamuffin-" he started, but Hermione interrupted him.

"Malfoy, if you even once again insult any of us, you'll be very sorry- all three of you!" Hermione glared at them. Malfoy laughed.

"Sticking for the Scarhead and Weasleys as usual, Mud-blood?" he drawled. "I'm not surprised. Anyways, want a bet that Weasley will not be in the team and will definitely send Potter to Dumbledore to beg to him to send 'Potter's side-kick' with him?" Crabbe to and Goyle laughed indolently. Harry was burning inside at the insult. Hermione grasped his wrist to restrain him from loosing control.

Ginny now turned to him, smiling derisively. "Not this good at insult in Umbridge's class last year, were you, Malfoy?" Ginny shot scathingly.

"Malfoy, go away- before I decide which curse I should put on you shut you up," said Harry finally, through gritted teeth, trying to control his rising temper. Seeing Malfoy still standing there smirking, he stood up sharply. The bottle of butterbeer near Ginny broke into fragments, spilling the butterbeer. Ginny's friends looked at them suspiciously.

Malfoy looked in trepidation at Harry, his wand outstretched and the broken bottle. His cronies scurried back slowly, obviously of being no help to him. At last, he went back to his Slytherin group.

"Look, its Ron's turn!" Ginny said suddenly, pointing at him. Everyone's attention turned towards him.

Roger Davies was soaring towards Ron. His face was set and saved spectacularly when Davies put the Quaffle past him. He even saved other players' shots at him, with only once staggering while saving a goal. His chance was last, and upon Madam Hooch's call all the four Keepers went to the room beside the pitch.

Roger Davies quickly came to them. "Hi Hermione! Listen, I just came to say that Weasley played pretty well today. I went to say to him also but-, I don't know he just gave me a strange glare and went away. I am sure he'll be chosen. Please congratulate him on my behalf," he said laconically, reaching to them. Hermione smiled diffidently and said, "You also played quite well!" Davies smiled. "Thanks-" and was about to say something else when he saw Ron coming towards them, with a murderous expression on his face. Davies went away quickly.

"Why the hell was Davies here? What was he saying?" Ron asked heatedly to Hermione.

"Well, he came to say that you played brilliant," said Hermione unperturbedly.

"Did he? He could have come to me then, he never congratulated me!" Ron fumed, going redder every second. Hermione sighed.

"I don't know...he just came to say that only, before you came here like you were ready to kill him here itself," she replied apathetically.

Ron gave an aggravated sigh and marched off.

***

Ron hadn't talked to her and Harry even the whole next day. He went somewhere early in the morning and didn't even meet them until night in the Great Hall, when he came to eat his dinner. Hermione tried to talk to him, but he ignored her completely and quickly went to his dormitories directly.

The result was that Harry was so irate at Ron the next morning that he poured the whole jug of chilled water over the sleeping Ron.

"DAMN! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Ron shouted, waking with a jerk.

"Do you feel better than your state yesterday?" Harry said quietly, anger obvious in his forced calm.

"What are you talking about Harry?" Ron asked, pretending to be perplexed. Harry groaned, agitated.

"What's your problem, Ron? You are now-a-days acting so stroppy. May I know why so?" Harry asked.

Ron looked around nervously, clearly now understanding what Harry was talking about. But there was no one in the dormitory except him and Harry. He was obviously without an answer. "We'll talk later," he finally replied.

"We'll talk now!" said Harry emphatically, towering over the sitting Ron.

Ron tried to change the subject. "Today's your tryout mate, don't you want to practice?"

And it worked. Harry, busy with Ron and Hermione, had completely forgotten about his tryout completely. He went numb and sat with a resounding 'thump' on his four-poster bed.

Ginny burst into the dormitory. "Harry, Hermione is asking-" but couldn't complete the sentence at the sight of Ron, still sitting on his bed. His red wet hair were coming to his eyes but he didn't bother. She tried to control her laughter but clearly couldn't restrain from howling in laughter.

Harry noticed Ron's appearance and couldn't help chuckling himself. Ron grumpily pushed his hair out of his eyes and asked, "Ginny, complete what you were saying and get out of here!"

Ginny glared at him but turned to Harry, still trying not to laugh. "Hermione wanted to ask if you wanted to go to Hagrid's in the evening. It's been a long time since we went to him," she said. Harry nodded, clearly happy to go to Hagrid's. She nodded tersely and stormed back with a 'huff'.

***

"It' so nice 'o see yeh' all," Hagrid said, opening the door.

"You know, we're a bit busy these days," Ginny said cheerily, glancing at Ron.

"O' cou'se, yeh migh've been, wi' 'he tryouts and all," agreed Hagrid. "It' yer 'ryout 'oday- isn' Harry?" He turned to Harry, who was keeping his Firebolt against the wall.

"We didn't see you at the feast, Hagrid. Where were you?" asked Harry, changing the subject.

Hagrid cleared his throat. "W'll I wen' fo' some Order work, you know," he whispered.

"Why?" asked Hermione, excited. Ginny chuckled quietly.

"Well, 'he Dea'h Ea'ers attacked a Muggle village nea' Hogsmeade. So I had 'o go," he said.

"Damn! I should've gotten my subscription re-issued. It ended this July," Hermione mumbled remorsefully.

"Me an' Lupin we'e al'eady 'here so, 'here was no 'arm done!" Hagrid continued, not hearing her.

"That's pretty good I suppose," Ginny said appreciating.

Hagrid opened his mouth to say something when Hermione squealed. "Harry, we're fifteen minutes late for the tryouts, Hurry!"

Harry grabbed his Firebolt and ran towards the pitch with a dreadful, sinking instinct. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Hagrid followed him.

When he reached there, Cho, Malfoy and a seventh year from Hufflepuff were already there. Cho smiled shyly at him, blushing, while Malfoy smirked.

"You're late, Potter!" Madam Hooch reprimanded him.

"Ma'am Hooch, 'arry was wi' me, doing some assignmen'," Hagrid promptly said. Hooch nodded. "It's Okay then," she said as Hagrid, went to the stands to join Ron and Hermione.

"Alright! Now, your selection will be based on how fast you catch the snitch and on how you performed in your earlier matches. There will Bludgers - four. They will be jinxed to stop you getting the Snitch. You've got to get past them and get the snitch as fast you can," Madam Hooch said. All four of them nodded.

Before mounting his broomstick Harry cast a look at where Hagrid was sitting. Hermione gave him huge grin with her thumbs up. Feeling high, he shot into the air.

"The snitch is out!" shouted Madam Hooch.

WHOOSH

Harry, who was noticing only for the snitch, hadn't seen the Bludger coming from his behind. He was lucky though, missing it by a few centimeters. Harry swerved by the impact of its speed, and saw Cho diving silently, out of the corners of his eyes. He dived for it. Cho was a bit hard to follow, as she had a new Nimbus 2000, but Harry's Firebolt gradually gained lead, with Harry muttering, "Come on!" like a mantra under his breadth.

They speeding steadily towards the grounds, when inches above the ground Harry pulled his broomstick back up, avoiding his crash. Cho also, realizing the risk, pulled her broomstick just in time.

It was probably Harry's good luck that he immediately saw the snitch at his arm's length before anybody else and dived for it.

"YES!" he shouted, as he caught the snitch.

There was a great eruption at the stands and as he turned, shocked, he saw almost half of the Gryffindor House had turned there to see his performance.

He got off his broomstick and ran towards Hermione, Hagrid and Ron.

"You were brilliant Harry, no match for that stupid Malfoy," Ginny appreciated, suddenly appearing behind him. Harry grinned. "Thanks Ginny!"

But then suddenly air was knocked out of him as Hermione hugged him hard. He hugged her back, feeling truly happy. Hermione pulled back, only to kiss him on the cheeks. "I'm so happy for you Harry!" she said through her tears. Harry only smiled, not knowing what to say...Really, they weren't so tough, were they?

***

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the whole next day in the grounds, wandering here and there, talking. They had just entered the Hall, planning to visit Dobby and Winky, when Neville came running to them.

"Harry, the results have come. I knew it from Ginny just now and I thought that we could go together," Neville panted.

His heart beating furiously, Harry followed them quickly to the Common Room, where the results were pinned. A huge crowd surrounded the notice, so Ron read the results to all of them-

"THE SCHOOL TEAM FOR INTER SCHOOL QUIDDITCH LEAGUE-

CHASERS-

Katie Bell (Gryffindor)

Samuel Bowden (Slytherin)

Rumian Bradley (Ravenclaw)

BEATERS-

Ernie Macmillan (Hufflepuff)

Rollie Wedge (Hufflepuff)

SEEKER-

Harry Potter (Gryffindor)

KEEPER-

Ronald Weasley (Gryffindor)

THE RESERVE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM-

CHASERS-

Roger Davies (Ravenclaw)

Zacharias Smith (Hufflepuff)

BEATERS-

Vincent Crabbe (Slytherin)

Gregory Goyle (Slytherin)

SEEKER-

Cho Chang (Ravenclaw)

KEEPER-

Brad Blecthley (Slytherin)

THE PREFECTS TO ACCOMPANY THEM-

Ginny Weasley (Gryffindor)

Hermione Granger (Gryffindor)

Draco Malfoy (Slytherin)

Luna Lovegood (Ravenclaw)

TEACHERS APPOINTED TO ESCORT THEM-

Severus Snape-"

"WHAT? Snape will also go?" said Harry annoyed at the mere thought of it.

"Harry, be quiet!" Hermione scolded him and turned to Ron. "Ron, go on!"

"Nymphadora Tonks, and

Albus Dumbledore

The team, prefects and teachers will leave for Durmstrang on 25^th September immediately after lunch. For more information, players may contact teachers or prefects," Ron finished.

"Well, that's good news. We all will be together there!" Hermione said eagerly, "Even that cow Parkinson won't be there!"

Ginny appeared from the crowd. "They haven't mentioned the captain of the team. Who do you guess it will be?" she asked them.

Neville made a try. "It can be Davies- he's the captain for a long time. Maybe they haven't even chosen yet. Anyways- Congratulations! There will be definite party in the evening, but..." Neville trailed off.

"Of course there will be!" Ron said impatiently, "Never miss a chance to have a party to eat food," Neville nodded and went away quickly. Ron turned to Harry. "I'm dying to have some butterbeer. What if we sneak to Hogsmeade and bring stuff?" he asked, his eyes glinting.

"NO!"

Ron turned exasperatedly to Hermione. "Why not?" he asked her in enforced calm.

"Ron, don't you care? There was an attack near Hogsmeade a few days ago, and you're going to sneak there? What if they attack there? What about Harry? Won't he be in danger then?" replied Hermione heatedly. Harry thought she looked cute while she was angry. Her cheeks turned pink when she did so.

Ginny's eyes brightened suddenly. She interrupted the forthcoming fight. "Hermione, you need to get the subscription of the Daily Prophet, don't you?" she said to Hermione, while looking meaningfully at Harry. And Harry understood. He winked at her to show that he understood. Hermione also nodded. "Yeah, let's go to the Owlery and send for the subscription," she said, suddenly grabbing Ginny and dragging her forward.

While being dragged, Ginny quickly took out some Galleons and shoveled them in Ron's hand, who looked confused. Ginny mouthed, "Go!" seeing Ron still puzzled.

Comprehension dawned on his face. "Let's go Harry, quick. Before Hermione arrives, or we'll be in trouble."

***

They came back to the Common Room with their arms full of butterbeer and lots of Hogsmeade sweets bulging in their pockets. The room was already full with people and there was an enormous roar as they entered. But what Harry saw there dampened all his light-headedness.

Hermione was eyeing them menacingly. Ron groaned in defeat but went to her, dropping his butterbeer on a table in the way. Harry followed him guiltily.

He tried to put on an innocent look. "What's the problem Hermione?" he asked her.

Hermione swelled in anger and Harry shut his eyes, not wanting to get the full blast of her anger.

"I'll tell you what the problem is. I told you not to go for your own safety and YOU STILL TOOK HARRY THERE!" she shouted the last few words so loudly that whole house looked at them, half in shock, and half in resignation.

Only Parvati and Lavender looked at them strangely and started giggling suddenly. This calmed the atmosphere and people went back to their party, shaking their heads exasperatedly. This subdued Hermione temper a little. She huffed at Ron and went to sit beside Ginny, who was watching all this with her mouth open.

Ron looked abashed. "That was a nightmare. Definitely don't get Hermione's temper rising or you'll be sorry for a long time," he said, rubbing his neck nervously. "But I bet she'll come around in a few hours," he finished.

And he was quite right. Within an hour or so, Hermione was talking to Ron as if nothing had happened. Harry, baffled by his friends' inconsistent behaviour, went over to Ginny.

"Those two- especially Ron- are really mad," said Ginny, looking at the pair of them. "Even at the Burrow, whenever Victor-"

"What? Krum- at Burrow?" Harry interjected.

"Yes. And stop acting like my brother, Harry," she replied, rolling her eyes. "He came there lots of time, to talk to Dad about the Order. He joined it this summer only. And each time he came, Ron acted as if he was flirting with Hermione! He even won't let me talk to him- said he wanted to flirt and nothing else!"

Harry secretly appreciated Ron's behaviour, for a reason he couldn't contemplate.

"Maybe he did," Harry said doubtfully. Ginny snorted, but fell silent soon.

"It's -the prophecy- interesting, isn't it?" she suddenly said.

Harry blinked at her, surprised at the sudden revitalization of the topic he hated most. "Well, that's not the word I would use..."

"Harry, don't you see? Its good news, from a certain point of view," Ginny said, with a momentous look.

"Good news?" he asked doubtfully. "Didn't you hear what it said? It's either me or You-Know-Who who'll kill the other!"

"Yes, it did. And that's what the good news is! In case you haven't noticed, the prophecy says that you can defeat him. Harry, There's no doubt any more. It's not a question of whether you can defeat him. You can. You have a power that the 'Dark Lord knows not'." Ginny grimaced suddenly. "Sorry, Harry, I don't mean to say it so baldly."

Harry would have smiled if the subject weren't so grim. "But Ginny, it doesn't say that I will defeat him," Harry said.

"You will," Ginny said assertively. "Look, how many people have escaped from You-Know-Who four times? Much less by the age of sixteen? If he could've killed you, shouldn't he have done in that the last four chances he got? Doesn't it seem like there is some sort of - destiny here?"

Harry felt a bit confident at her assurance. He hadn't thought about it that way - what really had changed? Voldemort was trying to kill him anyway, but now he knew that it was possible to win. He just needed to figure out how. He still might die, but there was a chance.

"OK, I agree with you," he said. "But the question is, what is this power that I have? Dumbledore didn't tell me."

They both grew silent, considering. Harry thought about mentioning that Neville had been another candidate, but it didn't seem relevant and technically it was really Neville's business anyway. Dumbledore had already told him that there wasn't any doubt that he was the subject of the prophecy.

"I just don't know what I'm supposed to do," said Harry.

"Well, Harry, Dumbledore must have a plan for all this. I guess we're just going to have to trust him," said Ginny. Harry could only nod.

But inspite of that, the party was quite enjoyable. Harry also got a chance to wish Katie congratulations.

As Ron and Harry were feeling quite sleepy, they left the party before it ended.

But as soon as he entered, Harry was lost in a swirl of white mist and heard rushing and broken voices, somewhat distant.

"She...did...get... Bellatrix...soon...need her...done fast..."

Harry didn't knew where he was, whether he was standing or not.

All he knew was that his scar was blinding him from pain.

"HARRY!"

Ron slapped him hard. Harry opened his eyes. He felt himself shaking hard. He had cold sweat on his face and was lying flat on his back. He sat up hastily and looked if anybody was looking at them.

"Ron," he panted- as if he had a long run, "We've got to go to Dumbledore-now- its important. Take Hermione also, she'll know the password to his office," Harry finished, trying to breathe deeply, and rubbing his scar. Ron nodded and helped him stand. He was chalk-white from worry. He opened his mouth to ask but just then Neville, Seamus and Dean entered the dormitory. He quickly led Harry out.

"What is it, Harry?" he asked Harry, when they were out on the stairs.

"Voldemort- stop flinching- He is going to attack at the Privet Drive soon- and I've got to be there, to prevent my Aunt."