Union/1

A/N: We begin with a quick recap on the first task to introduce the story. Apologies that it isn't incredibly eventful, but we will get there! For anyone who didn't catch it in the summary, this will be a story about two realities colliding with each other. Also, anyone know how to indent paragraphs on here?! I'm apologizing for the lines now, because FF eats my coding for line breaks, so I have to use them to help the story flow.

The first task ended as a success, and could only be described as the most dangerous game of Quidditch Harry had ever played. It was fleeting, fierce, and blood-throttling. Not only did he come out tying with Krum- the famous seeker for the Bulgarian National Quidditch team- thanks to his efficient performance, but with Ron seeing what danger the tournament really entailed he was able put his ill thoughts out of his mind and the two readily swept the past few weeks behind them like old dust.

The reunited trio entered the Gryffindor common room to be greeted with great commotion: the crowded room boomed with cheers and yells from their fellow students. Having just stepped past the Fat Lady(who also cheered), they were already surrounded by towers of pastries, flagons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface, and banners hung that showed Harry flying on his broom with the egg on them(some with Cedric being caught in the dragon's fire). Enchanted fireworks were flying across the room, and there was no doubt in Harry's mind that the twins were mostly responsible for the party. George, as Harry became aware, had been handing out flasks of firewhisky to the older students and pushed a rather large one against Harry's chest.

"I knew you had it in you Harry, that's some professional stuff right there. You'll be a shoo-in for the real deal, we need to get a scout out here for you."

Fred lifted his butterbeer in agreement and Harry flushed with embarrassment as the twins both cheers'd him. He pretended to take a long drink from the still-capped container in his grip. Eventually Lee had brought the egg back to Harry's attention as the Gryffindor champion finally made his way to an open seat, and immediately regretted it when Harry ripped the top of the egg open to release a piercing, screeching cry that rang so loud it sucked all other noise out of the room, causing everyone's hands to clap over their ears and cry out.

"Shut it! Shut it!"

Harry clamped the top shut on the egg once more, and with a sigh of relief from the celebrating crowd, they began the festivities again.

Ron came around to Harry's side with his face scrunched up in confusion.

"How are the screams of a hundred mandrakes supposed to be a clue?"

"Dunno." Harry shrugged, and tried to push it in the back of his mind as he took a bite out of a treacle tart.

Even Hermione let off about the S.P.E.W. agenda in spirit of the celebration, though Harry would catch her pointing her nose up at the wild amounts of treats she knew were obviously from the kitchens. They celebrated until nearly one in the morning, until eventually everyone petered out or dozed themselves off in a sofa or chair. Harry walked arm-over-shoulder with Ron(who had fallen prey to the flasks George was handing out) back to the boy's dormitories after seeing Hermione up her stairs safe.

"You, Harry. So great. Y'gonna- win this t..thing." Ron grumbled as Harry dropped him on the top of his bed, ripped the comforter out from under him, and tossed it back on his front.

"Yeah," Harry smiled down at him and tugged the comforter an inch more over his friend's already half-snoring form before pulling the bed curtains shut. "See you in the morning."

Harry rubbed his eyes with his hands before running down to the common room and quickly retrieving his egg. He didn't dare open it again while just about everyone was asleep, but tucked it gently into his invisibility cloak, and under his bed.

He gazed sleepily around the dorm- at the beds shadowed by curtains that no doubt held Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean each, and thought that, with them like this, he could get through this. He rested his glasses on the night table, and waited for sleep to take him as he watched the clouds pass over the twinkling stars out the window. The last thing he thought of was playing Quidditch on the back of a dragon- and that he eagerly wanted to write Sirius first thing in the morning.

Harry was laughing. He didn't know why or where, but he was. The sound reverberated around his chest, shaking his shoulders and leaving him breathless. It felt like he was laughing for the first time in his life. For once this year, instead of being wracked with worry or stress, he felt weightless. He stopped in his tracks, not realizing he had been running, and felt someone crash into the back of him, immediately wrapping their arms across his chest and pressing their face into the back of his neck.

Distorted, however still, Harry heard, "Seeing you like this, it makes me feel like there's only us."

Harry turned, and his hands bounced back at the very real warmth at the person in front of him. Who? He couldn't see them correctly. It was as if they were placed behind sea glass.

"Harry.."

He reached, and held the corner of the person's chin solidly, and brought their face closer to his, trying to focus them into view.

"Harry!"

He sat up with a jolt, effectively headbutting Ron and rising a laugh out of the rest of the boys.

"Blimey! You got me good- are you alright?" Ron sat at the end of his bed, pressing his palms into his forehead. If that wasn't rude enough for a wakening, sunlight was pouring into the room, stabbing at Harry's just-woken eyes.

"I- er, sorry, Ron, just a bad dream I guess." He only then realized though lighthearted as the dream had seemed, how tense his arms felt as he tried to prop himself up, and how a glaze of sweat ran across his torso.

"I'll say! Come on," Ron rose to his feet grudgingly, "Let's go get some breakfast. I'm starved."

"How!" Seamus gawked at him, "You pretty much ate a whole tower of pastries to yourself last night!"

Ron cast him a look and got dressed.

As though autumn had finally given in, December was met with sharp winds and heavy sleet. The fires flickered hot in the thick walls of the castle, much to Hermione's displeasure, and she started to go on about house elves and how Hogwarts was overworking already over-deprived creatures. The only real trouble that day was getting through Care of Magical Creatures in the windy pumpkin patches with Hagrid and maneuvering around Rita Skeeter's tragic methods of writing. They intercepted her wherever they could, enough to irritate her so much she left in a huff. They noticed a jagged scratch of ink her quill had scribbled across the parchment. Harry caught glimpse of a disappointed look on Malfoy's face that he didn't get a chance to gab about how awful Hagrid was.

The more personal issue was that Professor McGonagall had stopped Harry Thursday after Transfigurations to have a word with him.

She cleared her throat, and settled her clasped hands in front of her to address him. "Potter, the champions and their partners-"

"What partners?" he interrupted.

McGonagall chuckled for a moment before realizing the confusion on Harry's face and remembering, given where he grew up, there was no surprise he didn't know about wizarding traditions.

"Your partners.. For the Yule Ball, Mr. Potter."

Harry stared blankly at her still.

"Your dance partners," she said plainly.

A stone sank in his chest. "Dance partners? But, I don't even know how to dance."

"Oh yes, you do," she said pointedly, straightening her back, "At least for this you will. It's tradition and you are a Hogwart's champion. So make sure you get yourself a partner."

Harry fumbled on his answer, as it wasn't so much a question to bargain with but a statement. She leaned in and set a hand on his shoulder, offering a rare, gentle smile.

"You will do perfectly fine, Mr Potter, I assure you." With that she patted him twice on the arm and dismissed him.

Harry seemed to be in the habit of putting things off with the cooler weather settling in. He decided to wait to do his homework until the last second, the egg included.. And he didn't even want to begin thinking about finding a dance partner. Leaving the hall one evening, Harry was listening to Hermione and Ron chatter amongst themselves about Fleur and how Hermione already already had a plausible date.

"What! Who?!" Ron gawked at her.

"It's a secret!" she smiled to herself and held her head a little higher.

Harry was so lost in amusement by the two, he hardly noticed when he walked shoulder-to-shoulder into another student.

"Excus-" Harry turned to apologize but his body struck still at the sight of Malfoy massaging his own arm.

"Excuse yourself, Potter," he sneered, with his Potter Stinks! badge ringing, "Didn't learn any manners in that muggle household of yours? No surprise there." Draco looked the three up and down. "I can't wait to see what a disaster this threesome looks like at the ball."

"To let you know!" Hermione stood pridefully, "Harry has already been asked as a date, and they'll be worth much more than your standards!"

Murmurs of disappointment came from lingering students. Harry gaped at her blatant lie, but quickly regrouped.

"Oh does he?" Draco curled his lips up into a spiteful grin. "Can't be all that great a date if you're the one sticking up for it, mudblood." He turned and marched around the corridor while Hermione stared after him coldly, too used to his insults to create an uproar.

Fuming, Ron stood between Harry and Hermione looking quite bemused.

"What do you mean!" the redhead waved his hands around, gesturing frantically, "I don't see any dates!"

"I couldn't just watch him batter you-" she caught their wary eyes, "You both will have dates, don't worry yourselves to death."

As if the universe was giving him a glimmer of hope, Harry saw Cho walking with her usual group of friends towards the stairs. His heart leaped in his chest with the thought of the two of them dancing together..

"Yeah.."

Please let me know what you think! Like I said, I know it's a bit of a slow start, but, introductory chapters are necessary I feel. Thank you for taking a chance on my story! - Yenne