story22

The Ball Horror: Part I
By Liza of Gryffindor

       Harry was stuck.
          No, he wasn't in Potions with Neville as his partner. He was thinking about his dilemma; right now, he was dating Cho Chang, but for some reason, he couldn't get Hermione out of his head. It was November of his Fifth year; it had been okay. His scar hadn't been hurting, though occasionally it did. However, as Voldemort had risen, he'd have to get used to it. He was terrified, but he also knew that whatever happened happened, and that there was not one thing he could do about it. Not one single thing.
         "Earth to Harry."
          Harry blinked; Ron was sitting there, waving his hand over Harry's eyes.
         "Sorry," Harry said. "I was just thinking..."
         "About Cho?" Ron asked.
         Harry nodded. "Well, sort of. I was also thinking about Hermi-"
         "Hi Harry!" Harry saw Cho. Cho sat down. "So Harry, what's up?" Cho asked, smiling.
         Harry shrugged. "Not a lot..." then he said, "Do you want to go to the Yule Ball together?"
         Cho looked nervous. "Well..." she said, "I-I don't know....oh it's okay! Yeah, I'll go!"
         "What's wrong?" Harry asked.
         "Oh, nothing! I just thought I had to do something but its okay! I don't." Cho smiled. "We can go, Ced- I mean, Harry." Harry smiled.
         "Ron, who are you taking?" He asked.
          Ron blushed. "I might ask Hermione," he said.
          Cho said, "really? Neat! You'd be a good pair."
          Ron said, "well I still have to ask Hermione-"
          "Ask me what?" Ron, Harry, and Cho turned to see Hermione. Ron cleared his throat. "Hermione," he began, "will you go to the dance with me?" Hermione looked shocked.
          "S-sure," she stammered.
          Ron grinned. "Great!"
          A few weeks later.....the dance.
          Harry entered with Cho holding his hand. He joined Ginny, her date (Nevilled), Ron and Hermione. The three "couples" started talking. Just then they heard a weird noise. Everyone turned to see a weird looking man. However, Harry recognized him instantly.
          "Voldemort!" He gasped.
          Voldemort looked around. He smiled evily. "Well, well, well....I couldn't have picked at better time....all of you never would have guessed...so, who shall be my first victim?" He rubbed his chin. "Welll...I could get rid of the one who almost got rid of me first...."
          Harry froze. So did Cho; but Hermione shrieked, "no!"
          Ron, Hermione, and Cho stood up. Professor McGonagal, one of the Chaperones, stood up and walked towards Voldemort. "You won't kill one of my students," she said feircely.
          Voldemort said, "I would not be so sure. I could always get you out of the way, first, of course...."
          Professor McGonagall just stared and said, "better me than a student." She looked grim. Several students gasped. Harry said, "No! Voldemort, if you must kill someone, kill me first!"
          Cho screamed. "No! Kill me!" she cried. She looked at Voldemort.
          Voldemort raised his wand. He opened his mouth. Cho put a mirror to his face just as he said "Avada Kredava!" His eyes widened and he fell to the floor. Since he could not be killed, when a few dementors showed up, Ms. McGonagall allowed him to perform the kiss. After that, he would be erased of all his powers, and be held in Azkaban for life.
          A few hours later, the students were told that Fudge had been at the school; he and Dumbledore had seen the problem and had gotten the dementors. Aware that they were said to be supporters of Voldemort, Dumbledor ordered that if they didn't perform the kiss, they would be held somehow.
          But the problems didn't end; people still calimed Death-Eaters were at large. The Ministry prosecuted the Malfoys, but they denied having anything to do with this. Mr. Goyle confessed to everything and Crabbe admitted to "have supported Voldemort," but not to anything else.