The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

Surprise, Surprise

Scarlet's Point of View:

At breakfast the next morning, I found that many things occurred within the time my memory was recovering that I was unaware of. Ron and Hermoine were bickering as usual. Harry had attempted to mend their friendship by pretending to give Ron some of the Felix Felicis the day of a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slythering. Though, this had an opposite affect, making their feud even larger. And apparently due to this feud, Ron had begun dating Lavender Brown. There wasn't any need for me to ask about this. Lavender was practically sitting on Ron's lap. It wasn't even because of the fact that there was a lack of chairs. In fact, at the Gryffindor table, there was an excess of seats.

There was also the matter of Slughorn's Christmas Party. For the most part, the Slug Clug was for pretentious snobs **cough** Cormac McLaggen **cough**. "So Hermoine, who are you inviting?" I asked her. Ron shoved Lavender off of him and grabbed his plate that was filled with food as high as it could go, and exited the table, a waffle in his mouth. Lavender followed shortly after. "I was going to invite him, but it's not happening, with the way he's been acting". "You're completely right. He's being a jerk right now". I said. Harry didn't seem to whole-heartedly agree with Hermoine as I had. "Come on, Hermoine. You know how Ron can be. He's just got a hard head. That's all". Said Harry. "I'm not apologizing". Said Hermoine who crossed her arms. Whenever she did this, you knew that she wasn't going to budge no matter what you said or did.

Our conversation continued long after when we were at Honeydukes as I worked a shift there. Today was the day of the Hogsmeade trip and I'd be meeting the twins and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley at The Three Brooksticks. "What reason does he have to be mad at me for? And how does that justify his dating Lavender Brown? She's a complete airhead". Hermoine went on and on. Ron pretty much avoided us as long as Hermoine was with us. "Well. agree to disagree. Though, you're correct about Lavender being an airhead". Said Harry, who wanted nothing more than to put an end to their quarrel.

I only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, as I was taking orders. "Lavender isn't that much of an...... Well, she isn't the smartest pitchfork in the...... At least she's nice". Was Neville's poor counter argument, who could barely think of something. "Well, i'm going to be the bigger person. But my problems aside, who are you going to take, Harry? You best be aware that every girl wants to go with you. Word in the library, is that the girls, especially that Romilda Vane, plan to slip you a love potion, so you'll invite them. It's best if you ask someone sooner rather than later". Hermoine brushed the dirt particles that had settled there on her lap. "Scarlet". I heard Harry call my name from across the room. i sat down at the empty seat at the table he was sitting at. "Yes?" I asked him. I heard bits about the party, but not all of it. "I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to the Slughorn's Christmas Party". "Actually, I-" My left arm burned completely. "There's nothing that I would love more". My lips moved, but it wasn't quite my voice that came out. The voice belonged to Voldemort and mine. They were somewhat fused together into one that sounded like some sort of mechanical voice. Though, this didn't seem strange to Harry. He simply squeezed my fingers in excitement.

No one could hear this voice that was inside my head. The voice that unlike my conscience, pushed me to do much the opposite. And that little voice in my head that only I could hear, not only pushed me, but controlled me as well. Harry checked his watch. "Looks like it's time to meet the Weasley's". Said Harry. I removed my uniform and stood with Harry and Neville by the door. "Aren't you coming?" I asked Hermoine. "No thanks". She said. "Ron's there, isn't he?" I asked her. She nodded.

The three of us made the short trip to The Three Broomsticks. Harry wasn't planning on budging from my side. He said that he didn't want anything to happen to me on this Hogsmeade trip, or the next. Upon entry, the twins were the ones who spotted us first. They waved us over. "Scarlet, how've you been?" They asked me, placing me in between them. Harry and Neville pulled up seats next to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Better. I remember almost everything". I said to them. Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands with joy. "That's lovely!" "Molly's just been beating herself up, knowing that we couldn't scrape up the funds to take you to St. Mungo's for proper treatment". Said Mr. Weasley. I simply waved it off.