Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Characters:
Harry Potter Hermione Granger Ron Weasley Remus Lupin Sirius Black
Genres:
Action Drama
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire
Stats:
Published: 03/12/2003
Updated: 06/18/2004
Words: 105,717
Chapters: 17
Hits: 25,132

Harry Potter and the Dark Mark

venus

Story Summary:
The sequel to Harry Potter and the Heir of Gryffindor. In Harry's 6th year, the Wizarding world is in bedlam: the dark movement is on the rise with a streak of senseless murders one after the other after the other. Harry's quest to stop the terror leads to the revelation of ancient secrets, re-visiting the past , and some old scores are *finally* settled!

Chapter 08

Chapter Summary:
The sequel to Harry Potter and the Heir of Gryffindor. In Harry’s 6th year, the Wizarding world is in bedlam: the dark movement is on the rise with a streak of senseless murders one after the other after the other. Harry’s quest to stop the terror leads to the revelation of ancient secrets, re-visiting the past, and some old scores are *finally* settled!
Posted:
05/24/2003
Hits:
873
Chapter Eight: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin

Harry wasn't tired as he dressed early that morning while the dorms still whispered and sighed with sleep. He trekked out and down to the Quidditch Pitch to watch the sun rise in the distance-- the morning sky was a deep, blood red which made the dark rolling hills so defining the landscape, appear to be on fire. How fitting-- a red sunrise. In Wizarding and Muggle worlds alike, such a thing meant death. Or at least, a battle was to be waged. And in this one, Harry had not just Gryffindor to defend, but Sirius' injustice to avenge.

Harry joined the Gryffindors for breakfast just as most of them were already finishing up.

"Harry," Ron gushed, "thank goodness! I didn't know what happened to you! Where were you?"

"Thinking," said Harry dismissively as he sat down, reaching for a slice of toast.

Ron laughed. "Aye, and I know about who!"

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked up to find Professor McGonagall standing overtop them. She was dressed in robes of black and deep burgundy-the feather in her had a bright yellow. Gryffindor colors.

"Hello, Professor."

"I just wanted to wish all of you luck." She nodded at the rest of the table. "All of my best wishes are with you. Angelina actually wanted to attend today's game, Harry, but she was not able to break her plans. But. . ." Her eyes twinkled and she leaned down so that her whisper could only be heard by Harry. (and of course the burning ears of Ronald Weasley)

"Miss Banbury is set to arrive in time for the game and I hear she is quite excited about having supper with us tonight."

Harry's heart started pounding again.

Professor McGonagall straightened out her stance and, without another word, began her way towards the faculty table.

There was, of course, the inevitable snigger from Ron. "I certainly hope that's not going to ruin your focus, Harry."

"Not a chance," said Harry. He'd just spied Draco Malfoy at the other end of the hall. "I'm very focused."

Nerves were jumpy in the changing rooms. The team was new: Ron, Seamus, Dennis Creevey, Arvid Bourner and Melanie Miggs still looked uncomfortable in their new Quidditch robes-- everyone had a case of first-game jitters. Dennis Creevey had spent several minutes in the bathroom, Seamus looked paler than usual, and Ron was being unearthly quiet. A player's first Quidditch game was nerve-wracking business! Harry, however, wasn't so much nervous as he was eager to get back into the air. He quite simply couldn't wait.

He called everyone together and then led the team out from the underground tunnel. "It'll be okay, Ron," said Harry with a hopeful smile as they waited for Madame Hooch's okay to take to their brooms. "I mean it-- you're going to have fun."

The greenish hue to Ron's face suggested he was more than likely unconvinced by that, but Harry was adamant. "I mean it. Besides. . . you look good in those colors."

That cracked the smile that Harry had wanted from Ron.

"Mount your brooms," Madame Hooch shrieked.

The team obeyed, letting out a deafening chorus of "FIGHT! FIGHT, GRYFFINDOR!" and flew out into the air. A tingle ran through Harry as the roar of the students in the stands thundered around him. They were a kaleidoscope of color as he circled the quidditch pitch to take his spot . . face to face with Malfoy.

Draco's smile was as sinister and sneering as it always was. Madame Hooch was below them, between Dennis and Montague.

"Keep it clean, kids," she shouted.

Harry and Malfoy held their gaze.

Sorry Madame Hooch. I don't think that's going to happen today. "You're gonna pay for what you did to Sirius."

"We'll see about that."

Madame Hooch blew her whistle and the Quaffle was released up in the air! Lee Jordan was especially spirited as he narrated the play-by-play.

"And it's Slytherin in possession! Montague passes to Zabini-- Zabini throws for a goal and it's blocked by Lonnegan! Nice save Lars!"

Lars held the Quaffle and threw it to Seamus. Seamus zoomed through the sea of green robes, bearing straight for the Gryffindor goal. The bludger came hurtling at him from behind, but Ron spied it and smacked it as hard as he could. The bludger went soaring high into the air-- straight for Harry! Harry ducked, almost falling off his broom.

"OY! RON! I'm on YOUR side, you know!"

"Sorry, mate!"

Even from thirty feet away, Harry could see Ron blushing. Harry's eyes widened: fluttering happily behind Ron was the Golden Snitch! Without another breath, Harry bolted off for it. The wind raced through his hair, the Snitch still fluttering in place.

I'm going to get it! It's going to be mine . . . Harry reached--

BAM!

Harry grabbed hold of his broom and held on for dear life, the world around him spinning in circles like a whirlpool. He could hear Lee's voice through the confusion,

"FOUL! MALFOY PULLED A BACK-END SWIPE! COME ON, HOOCH, CALL A FOUL! HE BLATANTLY FOULED POTTER! HE PURPOSEFULLY KICKED THE BACK-END OF HIS BROOM--" Harry could hear boos filling the stadium and, finally getting a hold on his bearings, looked up to find Malfoy grinning madly.

"Oops," said Draco, raising his hand to his mouth, "sorry! Must've lost my balance."

Harry bolted off for Malfoy, whose face paled-- he apparently hadn't been expecting such an immediate reaction from Harry. But Harry saw something much more important than Malfoy-- the snitch hovering right over his head! The fact that Malfoy was in the way was not important-- Harry was prepared to fly right through him if need be!

"THE SNITCH, MALFOY!" Montague was shouting at the top of his lungs and pointing, "HE'S GONNA GET THE SNITCH!"

By the time Malfoy caught on, the Snitch had already fluttered away and Harry was hot on its pursuit. Harry smiled inwardly and, as he passed Malfoy, he veered towards him and, with all his strength, slammed against Malfoy's broom, whacking the back of it so that Malfoy was thrown completely off course.

"HOW DOES IT FEEL?" Harry yelled back as he continued onward after the Snitch.

"OH MY-- GREAT SHOT, HARRY!" Lee Jordan was practically screaming, "SHOW THAT SLIMY--"

"LEE JORDAN!"

"I'm sorry Professor, but this is WAR!"

Harry's face was stinging from the fierce cold of the wind as he sped faster and faster. The fluttering blur of gold kept darting up and down, left and right, but Harry was on that snitch like a hawk.

Harry could hear a rush of wind behind him and he knew it was Malfoy.

"You bastard," Malfoy was shouting. "You'll pay for that!"

Harry braced on his broom, ready for another impact from Malfoy, when to his complete surprise, a woman with huge glasses appeared alongside them.

Madame Hooch!

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! Madame Hooch has called a time out to have a chat with the Seekers! If there's an ounce of DECENCY in her, she'll have that Slytherin Seeker grounded--"

"I will NOT tell you again, Lee! That's it, move aside! NOW!"

"OKAY! All right! I'll stop!"

"THANK you!" "but I'm right and you know it. . ." "LEE!" Harry and Malfoy pulled to a stop. Harry had never seen Madame Hooch look as angry as she did right then. She folded her arms, "Having some difficulties playing by the rules, gentlemen?"

"Madame Hooch, you saw what Malfoy did to me--"

"And that gives you the right to do the same to him?"

Harry said nothing-- how could he? She was perfectly correct.

"Now, if you two cannot play this game by the rules like the mature sixteen year olds I thought you were, I will gladly see to it that you are both grounded for the next two games of the season."

She positively glared at Malfoy, and then looked at Harry with, not just irritation, but disappointment.

Harry's gaze dropped down below him to where Ron was hovering next to Arvid Bourner. Ron offered a smile and then gave Harry a thumbs-up sign and a wink.

Harry laughed and Madame Hooch blew her whistle.

"And they're off again-- it's Miggs to Finnegan, Finnegan goes to score and-- Oh! interception by Bole Veers! Veers to Zabini-- COME ON, GRYFFINDOR, ZABINI WAS WIDE OPEN! It's Zabini down the pitch, Finnegan on his tail, Zabini swerves, he shoots and-- Slytherin scores! Slytherin takes the lead, Eighty points to Seventy!"

"Looks like history is about to repeat itself," shouted Draco smugly.

Harry furrowed his brow. "The future has yet to be written, Malfoy."

"For you it has," he said coldly as an horrifically evil smile crossed his lips, "and I'm not just talking about Quidditch." Harry was fully prepared to knock Malfoy off his broom, but they were interrupted by a bludger zooming perilously close to them. Ron wasn't ten feet away and was yelling, "HARRY! THE SNITCH! THE SNITCH!!"

Harry and Malfoy tilted their heads back to see the Snitch fluttering high above them. The two rivals eyed each other and then bolted up skyward for the Snitch. The velocity made Harry get a bit lightheaded, but he couldn't let that affect him, and he held ever tighter to the broom. He was neck and neck with Malfoy. Just as the Snitch was within reach, it dropped back down below them.

"Dammit," Harry and Draco shouted at the same time and they brought their brooms around and made a dive back down in the direction of the Snitch. It flurried ahead of them, pulling out of the dive and bursting straight ahead into the horizon. Even with his Firebolt, it felt impossible that he could catch up with the snitch! Surely, this was the fastest his broom had ever flown!

What happened next could only have lasted ten seconds in reality, but it was as though it were all happening in slow motion! The Snitch abruptly stopped and bolted back towards them again. Harry and Malfoy's brooms were going much too fast to be able to turn around and chase after it. Harry knew it. The snitch was soaring back-- it would soon be close enough for him to reach out and grab it-- or was it?

Dammit! It's too far away! I'd have to jump to . ..

Ridiculous, Harry! Don't do it! Don't do it! You jump off your broom, you catch the snitch-- you fall to your death! It's not worth DYING over!

Why is it that reason vanishes when we are desperate?

The Snitch was twenty feet away, fifteen feet, ten feet-- he had to act now!

He mustered up all the strength he possessed and brought his feet up to the seat of his broomstick to balance himself.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems that Potter is. . .I don't know what Potter is doing . . . GREAT MERLIN! IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING TO JUMP!"

Harry was free-- flying in the air. With his left hand he reached out and the Snitch fell perfectly into the palm of his hand.

He stretched out his right hand and shouted, "ACCIO FIREBOLT!"

He knew he was falling, but channeled all his focus and strength on his outstretched hand. He'd done it before, he knew he could do it now, and nearly instantaneously, the Firebolt was back in his hand again.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT! HARRY POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH AND -- HOW THE HELL DID HE DO THAT?!? OH, WHO BLOODY CARES! GRYFFINDOR WINS!!"

Harry's left hand was still glued tight around the buzzing Snitch. He glanced up and saw Malfoy, his face drained of all color, sitting on his stationary broom: it was the most satisfying thing Harry had seen in a long time.

He finally became aware of everything else around him-- the stands had erupted into a cacophonous roar of applause and shouting. Harry beamed and rose his hand high in the air, waving the Snitch triumphantly-- it sounded like the stands were going to explode from the sheer intensity of it all! His teammates were waiting for him on the ground as Harry landed his firebolt to and stepped off onto the solid earth once more. The Gryffindors enveloped him, shouting in his ears all at once.

Ron, who glowed bright red, was grabbing Harry's arms forcefully, shaking him.

"ALL RIGHT, Mate! You DID it! That play should go down in bloody history!" "I don't know how the bloody hell you did that, Harry," said Seamus, beaming brilliantly, "but you gotta teach me that one!"

"WICKED," Dennis Creevey was gushing, "Colin was right, you can do anything! It looked like you called your broom and it came to you!"

"Abso-bloody-lutely brilliant," said Lars Lonnegan, "I have never seen anything so . . . so . . ."

"So completely foolish!"

It was Professor McGonagall who had joined the growing crowd on the Pitch. But even she could keep a straight face. She burst into a smile. "Those Slytherins never knew what hit them, did they!"

The Gryffindors burst into another raucous cheer and Ron and Seamus bent down and took hold of Harry's legs.

"What are you-- oh, put me down!"

But they'd already lifted him up and onto their shoulders and the crowds, just starting to calm down, went positively haywire! Harry was horribly embarrassed by this display, but deep down he couldn't help but admit . . . it was rather fun. The Gryffindors had been joined by the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, all eager to bestow upon Harry their congratulations at putting Slytherin in their place-- and to ask how in the hell he pulled off such an incredible feat!

Of course, Harry couldn't very well tell them the truth. He'd learned last year that he was a Free-Hander: a very rare wizarding minority who can, under certain circumstances, cast a complex charm or spell simply on incantation only, without the use of a wand. It had happened last year when Harry's own wand had been taken away by Voldemort, and his own death seemed imminent. Harry had disarmed the Dark Lord himself on incantation only.

The crowds around him were still celebrating and had launched into a chorus of, "Har-ry! Har-ry!"

I wish they's stop this nonsense-- the rest of the team are the ones who really deserve this! They're the real heroes, not me . . .

Then, one of the voices seemed to come out at him from amongst the onslaught.

"Harry!"

Harry's eyes darted through the crowds and he found precisely who he was looking for.

"Ron! Dennis! Let me down!"

It was Sophie!

From the sea of faces, hers was all Harry could sea-- a beacon amidst the ordinary masses. She was flashing her dimpled smile and her kind, brown eyes were shining. Harry practically trampled his other Gryffindors to get to her and, without thinking or caring, he'd swept his arms around her. He'd forgotten that he was dirty and sweaty and smelled positively acrid-- he just wanted to be as close to her as possible.

And when she was reluctant to let him draw away from her, he knew that she felt the same way.

And that feeling was immeasurably better than catching the golden snitch any day!

"I can't believe you're really here," he said, wishing the rest of the world would disappear and let them alone.

"Incredible, Harry! Incredible! Hermione and I bit our nails right off!" she held up her fingers as proof. "I'm gonna need bandages!"

Harry laughed. "Ah, well, you know, I wanted to make sure your first Quidditch game would be one you wouldn't forget."

"Well you succeeded. I about had a heart attack! More than once!"

Hermione chuckled. "Yeah-- especailly when Ron almost took your head off with that bludger!" She quickly threw her arms lovingly around Ron's waist, "Sorry love, but it's true!" Ron grimaced. "It was an honest mistake--"

"Well I should hope it was!"

"Let him alone, Hermione" said Harry, still not having let go of Sophie, "he was brilliant out there!"

"HE CHEATED!" The Gryffindors turned their heads curiously to the direction of the angry squeal and found Montague with Blaise Zabini and Malfoy, whining to Madame Hooch.

"He cheated," said Montague again, "He used his wand to summon his broom!"

Harry stiffened. "I did no such thing. I don't even have my wand with me!"

Madame Hooch looked satisfied and turned her attention back to the Slytherins. "There you have it, Mr. Montague. Potter was not in possession of a wand, therefore he could not possibly have been in violation of any such rule. A rule which, incidentally, does not exist."

"Rule number four clearly states--"

"Rule number four is a loophole." Madame Hooch looked quite pleased. "The rulebook never directly states that wands are not permitted. It does state that it is illegal for a player to summon the snitch by any sort of spell or enchantment, which leads one to believe that wands are not permitted. I can guarantee there is nothing said about summoning a broom. . ."

Montague was vehement! "THAT'S NOT FAIR! YOU ALWAYS SIDE WITH POTTER--"

Madame Hooch lost her air of happiness and scoweled. "Who are you to question my integrity, Mr. Montague! Might I remind you that I am still making up my mind on whether or not to slap your team with a penalty for blatantly fouling Mr. Potter at the outset of the game!"

Montague kept silent and the Gryffindors chuckled happily.

"Come on," said Ron. "let's get dressed for supper-- I'm famished!"

Professor McGonagall took Sophie with her to escort her to her sleeping quarters, and everyone else made a run for the common room Harry's heart was beating wildly; he felt ill, excited, terrified, and suddenly quite unsure of how he should act or what he should say around her.

Harry's hands were shaking as he fumbled through his desk drawer, the back of his hair still damp from the shower. Ron, still dressing, was quite surprised by his anxiousness.

"Calm down, Harry. It's Sophie. You don't have to worry about trying to impress her. She'd be impressed if you recited the bloody alphabet, all right?"

"It's just that I get so nervous when I haven't seen her for a long time. . . I just. . ." Ron was laughing at his best friend. "Don't worry, mate," he pulled a brown jumper overhead, "I still get that way with 'Mione."

Harry smiled, albeit weakly, and slammed his drawer shut, frustrated. "Do you have any cologne? What about the 'Witches Brew' stuff your Mum bought you--"

Ron laughed. "Too late for that, Harry. Sophie already knows you smell like mandrake manure, no reason to try and cover it over. Now come on, everyone's already downstairs!"

The Great Hall was alive with the same sort of energy as it had been the night before on Halloween. Harry proudly joined the Gryffindor table, which had a certain Ravenclaw intruder.

"Oy! Sophie!" Ron was scooting in next to Hermione, "aren't you a Ravenclaw? Shouldn't you be over--"

Harry jabbed Ron in the stomach. "Ron," he said warningly.

Sophie laughed, "it's all right. I'm a traitor-- they know it. Your sister is having a great time giving me grief about it, Parvati."

"She's a tyrant when it comes to House Pride," said Parvati Patil. "But she's all bark and no bite. Speaking of bite, have you tried that Pudding? It's unbelievable!"

The polite conversation was muffled to Harry, because he was aware only of the incredible force at his side. How strange: his nervousness calmed the second Sophie had smiled at him. Underneath the table, he felt her soft hand squeeze his tightly and although the mere sight of her was still enough to cause his heart to stop, the touch of her hand reminded him that she was a dear friend -- first and foremost -- and he wished that he could hold her hand in his forever . . .

"So then why don't you stay on here?" Seamus was asking.

Harry felt Sophie's hand tense up at the question. She cleared her throat and managed to keep smiling at Seamus. "Well . .. right now isn't a good time for Dad and me. Since Mum died it's been hard, so . . . leaving him for six months wasn't even an option."

Seamus looked thoroughly embarrassed and the other students were stirring uncomfortably, not knowing how to react to what she'd said.

She sensed this. "But," she said with a hopeful smile, "I do have good news! Next month I am throwing another Christmas Party on Christmas Eve!"

The table cheered.

"Wicked!" said Ron.

"Oh, Sophie, yours are the best," said Seamus, "the absolute bloody best!"

Hermione was acting more excited than anyone. "Oh, wouldn't it be fun if. . . Oh! I haven't told you yet! I haven't told anyone yet! Oh! Guess who will be in London that week!"

Ron opened his mouth to answer, but Hermione couldn't wait. "Jake Dugan! Remember? Last year on our class trip in New Orleans? The really nice freckle haired bloke who we all got on with--"

"OH! Right," said Ron. He paused, "What, you've been writing to him?"

"Well yeah, occasionally--"

"How occasionally is that exactly?" Ron looked irritated.

"Really, Ron! Honestly! Anyway, he is going to be in London on holiday with his family and his best friend Dewey."

"Brilliant," said Harry, "they were both so nice!"

"American wizards," said Sophie thoughtfully. "That would be interesting . . . why don't you tell them that they are more than welcome to come?"

It had to have been without a doubt, the shortest meal he'd ever had in his life. He felt as though he'd only just sat down and already the students were trickling out of the Great Hall. How he was willing them to come back- so he could sit beside her just a little longer.

"Ready, Miss Banbury?"

Professor McGonagall stood behind them, arms folded, waiting expectantly. Harry's stomach plunged: she was going to take her back to her chambers! Sophie's smile faded. She gave Harry a forlorn gaze and then slowly stood up.

Hermione must have seen the look of disappointment on both Harry and Sophie's faces, because she spoke up. "Oh! Er. . . Professor, Sophie could stay in our dorms for tonight, couldn't she? I mean, I know that she is a Ravenclaw, but it would only be for one night and it being that we rarely get a chance to see her. . ."

Harry's held his breath.

Professor McGonagall thought for a moment, but then shook her head. "I'm sorry Miss Granger,but as you said, Miss Banbury is a Ravenclaw. Were she to stay in any dorms on campus it would be in Ravenclaw's, and I am sorry to add that there just isn't the room in the girls dormitories at this time."

Damn.

"I trust the rest of you will be getting off to bed now as well-- it's nearly eleven. Even a Gryffindor victory as spectacular as ours was doesn't give any of us freedom to wander after hours. Any of us."

Harry could have sworn that McGonagall had pointed that comment at him. But why? Sneaking around after hours was the furthest thing from his mind. . . well . . . it had been the furthest thing from his mind until she'd mentioned it. . . and now that she had mentioned it

"This way, Miss Banbury," said McGonagall.

Hermione hugged Sophie goodbye, then Ron and then Harry. She snuggled her head against him. "I'm going to miss you. . ."

He let his lips almost brush against her ear as he answered. "Not yet. . . I'll meet you in your chamber at one am."

He could feel her confusion. "One?"

"Yes, tonight. Just be waiting for me."

"How--"

"Trust me." He pulled away from her.

She was intrigued and nodded, suddenly looking quite happy. She wordlessly turned and followed McGonagall out of the hall. Harry was smiling and turned to face Ron, his arms folded and brow raised in that teasing I-Know-Something-You-Don't-Know pose.

"What?" said Harry.

Ron simply stood and smiled, shaking his head.

"What, Ron?"

When he finally did speak it was only to say the words, "Astronomy Tower."

"Sorry?"

"The Astronomy Tower," Ron repeated. "You're thinking of a place where you can take her tonight when you go to kidnap her using your cloak and map, aren't you? And I'm telling you, the place you want to go to is the Astronomy Tower. It's very . . . shall we say . . . atmospheric."

Harry couldn't believe it! He had only just come up with that idea himself and here Ron was calling him on it!

Harry shook his head. "Unbelievable. You know me too well, Ron."

"It's not that, it's just that you're such an open book."

The Gryffindor boys dormitories took longer than usual to settle down to sleep, which irritated Harry as he waited in bed, impatiently, wanting to smother Neville with his pillow to keep him from talking.

And finally . . . the snoring started.

Harry was still fully clothed underneath his covers and he silently slid off the mattress and crouched on the cold floor, pulling his trunk from under the bed. Deftly unlocking it, he pulled out his beloved invisibility cloak and Marauders Map.

He tiptoed towards the staircase, but turned around one last time, sensing something behind him. Sure enough, Ronald Weasley was sitting upright in bed, hands folded behind his head, grinning.

"Behave yourselves."

Harry rolled his eyes at his friend, threw the cloak over him and disappeared from sight. Harry loved the incredible freedom he felt beneath the cloak and flurried out of the Gryffindor tower. He opened the map and recited those nine magic words:

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" The map glowed nad greeted Harry as it always did: PADFOOT, MOONIE, WORMTAIL AND PRONGS PRESENT: THE MARAUDER'S MAP.

Thre on the map he saw the blinking dot with his name beneath it and then found "Sophie Banbury". Harry bit his lip. Ouch. This is gonna be a tough one. Her chamber was directly next to McGonagall's-- in fact, he'd have to enter her room through McGonagall's.

He hurried off the hall and took a shortcut to the fourth floor behind a knight in armor (whom Harry could have sworn cursed at him for disturbing his sleep) and was quickly at the large, foreboding door to Professor McGonagall's quarters.

"Alohomora," Harry whispered and the door slowly creaked open. He crept inside, gently closing the door behind him. He could hear the Professor snoring loudly from beneath her tartan green covers at the far end of the room--

Goodness! McGonagall snores even louder than Ron!

Sophie's chamber was at then other end of the room and he entered quietly. The chamber was quite compact with no windows and a few flickering candles at the side of her bed for light. The candles illuminated Sophie's small figure-- she was sitting upright in her bed, quilts pulled tightly around her. Everything else was darkness and she looked like a frightened lost little girl.

"H-Harry? Is that you?"

Harry removed his cloak and bowed chivalrously. "At your service, melady."

She was immediately from off her bed and at his side, embracing him tightly.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming!"

"Sorry-- the lads wouldn't go to sleep!"

"So!" she said eagerly, "where are we going?"

Harry wrapped his cloak around them.

Sophie let out an excited giggle. "Brilliant!"

They tiptoed back out of McGonagall's room and out into the hallway again. They fourth floor hallway was flooded with the unusually bright moonlight-- to the annoyance of a number of portraits were stirring grumpily under its light, trying to get their sleep.

"Wow," she said, "it's so beautiful at night isn't it! I guess this is what you Ron and Hermione do in your spare time? Sneak around school grounds?"

"Actually, I haven't done this for quite some time. But I thought you might appreciate a tour of the castle."

Their steps were in perfect timing with each others'-- just like everything else about them. Sophie was laughing, "I've already had two tours today-- Hagrid, then Professor Dumbledore and now you. Although this time, I'm sure I will actually enjoy it."

Harry led her to the stairs that led up towards the Astronomy Tower. He pulled the cloak from off them and they climbed the steps together.

"Where are we going?" she said, a bit winded, obviously not used to the climb as Harry was.

"Sorry, it's the highest tower in the castle."

"I believe it."

"But. . ." said Harry, as he helped her off the last step and into the Astronomy Tower chamber, "the climb is well worth it."

Sophie gasped.

The moon was being kept company that night by large cumulus clouds, soft and bright beneath the not-quite-full orb. It made for spine-tingling beauty-- the haunting dark blue and gray lovliness of the massive clouds melding with the blackness of the night.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Sophie's skin was pale-- she was drowning in the moonlight, her skin and hair an odd blue-ish silver. She went to the largest window and leaned out. "It's unbelievable, Harry."

Harry joined her at the window, caught up in its' impressiveness. "I love the way that everything looks so small and simple and. . . uncomplicated from up here." He sighed. "Everything looks like it makes perfect sense. It's how I wish things really were. And then you look closer and start to see how ugly things really are . . ."

"Well . . ." said Sophie, leaning against the stone wall, ". . . see how far you can see from up here? You can see far ahead-- beyond the immediate. The entire picture. I think it's comforting to see how beautiful the entire picture really is. It makes me realize that the ugly things that may be in our face are really only temporary."

Harry was awed by her words and couldn't help by gawk. He sensed that this was making her uneasy, so he cleared his throat.

"I've. . . I've been meaning to ask you. . . how is Dudley?"

A melancholy shadow crossed her face. "I . . . don't think he's doing so well. I mean, ever since he . . . found out about us he's just been so . . . quiet." She was staring into Harry's eyes. "And thin too, Harry. Oh, it's scary. Like he's sick. . ."

"Yeah, I noticed that when we had lunch at the Ministry."

She nodded sadly and looked teary eyed. "I'm doing everything I can to keep our friendship strong, but I know he's only tolerating me."

"Hey, you told me not to give up, remember?" "I know, and I'm not going to." She turned to Harry, her voice suddenly hushed and her eyes focused on the ground. "do you know . . . that I haven't had a good night's sleep all week because I knew that I was going to see you?" She raised her eyes. "I hate to sound childish, but it's true."

Surely, she had to her his heart beating!

"Late at night when I really need to talk to someone. . . I just wish you were with me. Because . . . some days are so . . . so hard, Harry."

She stopped, staring straight ahead into the night, trying to get it out. Harry sat quietly, waiting.

"I . . . I can hear Dad at night, crying in his room. He never talks about it to me -- about Mum-- and he puts a smile on every morning, but I know that he's suffering." She was trying to calm the shakiness off her voice. "I. . . I miss her so much, Harry."

Her emotions won over and the tears fell, streaming down her angelic face. She threw her arms around Harry, who pulled her close against him, trying desperately not to do the same thing himself. After all, he had been there the night Mrs. Banbury was killed-- he shared her memories. Sophie felt so delicate and fragile in his embrace and he wished that he had the power to soften that pain and erase those horrible memories that were the reason for the tears now wetting his robe.

"I know, I know," was all he could say and he stroked her hair softly. Strands of her hair were wet against her face and he cleared them from her eyes. There was an unearthly silence surrounding them-- it felt as though the night was waiting for something. It was holding its breath in anticipation, just as Harry was.

He'd been aching to do it every time he saw her or even thought of her. He went to sleep at night wishing he could relive those soft five seconds earlier that year when they'd shared that quiet kiss.

This time, as he brought his lips to hers, there wasn't anyone around to interrupt them.

His eyes were closed tight- something he was sure looked childish and immature, but something he truly could not help. What mattered to him was keeping her that close to him for as long as he could--holding her tightly, tasting and feeling how wonderful she really was. No wands, spells, potions or incantations-the only magic around was the two of them.

Letting go wasn't an option. Letting go would break this wonderfully real magic.

And apparently, Sophie had the same idea. She was obviously more experienced than Harry, but was extremely gentle with him, placing her hands about his waist and pulling him closer to her. Harry wasn't even thinking anymore. All he understood was the beauty of now-- this beautiful girl against him, her mouth on his, her hands pressed hard against his chest.

It was entirely too much for him to bear! Harry was pressed up against the wall, his hunger for her growing with every passing, euphoric second. Her arms were around his neck, her moist mouth on his lips, and for a moment he was certain that he was going to die from the pleasure of the sensation of her delicate fingers deftly tracing their way down torso.

Sophie's breath was winded, but he could hear the smile in her voice. "Oh my-- Harry! Where did you learn to kiss like that?"

Harry laughed softly, loving the feel of her breath so warm on his ear. "I dunno-- instinct, I guess."

She paused her kissing and gently held up his chin with her fingertips.

Oh God, she is just so beautiful. . .

"Then I 'm the bloody luckiest girl in the world. Girls would kill to have a bloke with your kind of instinct!"

Harry laughed and met her lips again. He didn't feel like he was only a sixteen year old schoolboy-- not with her. He wasn't scared or awkward or "Famous Harry Potter" or anything else. . . he was simply himself.

And what was the most incredible part of all? That was all right with Sophie. That was the person she loved and he knew it.