Chapter 62
Chapter : The Yule Ball and Winter Solstice
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Alex's POV
Winter had settled over the countryside, blanketing the landscape in snow. Inside the house, warmth and laughter filled the air as we celebrated the Yule Winter Solstice on the 21st of December. It was a day of ancient magic, family, and exchanging gifts—a tradition that reminded us of the older, deeper roots of magic in the wizarding world.
The house was beautifully decorated with enchanted lights, holly, and mistletoe hanging from every corner. The fireplace crackled softly, casting a golden glow over everyone. Sirius had been in an especially good mood, practically bouncing around as Marlene tried to rein him in.
“Alright, everyone, time for gifts!” Sirius announced with a mischievous grin, clapping his hands together.
I smiled, watching as Harry nervously fiddled with the edge of his sweater. This was his first real Yule celebration with family—his real family. And though he tried to hide it, the excitement was clear in his eyes. I had been busy these past few days, preparing for both the holiday and the upcoming Ministry Yule Ball, but moments like these reminded me of why family was important.
After exchanging gifts—ranging from Sirius’s ridiculous enchanted prank items to more practical things like new books for me and healing supplies for Harry—we settled down for a quiet family dinner.
But the looming Ministry Yule Ball was just around the corner, and even though I knew it would be a political affair, the thought of having to navigate it as an eleven-year-old was... odd.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror later that night, trying to adjust my dress robes. At least I looked the part, I thought, straightening my collar. It was weird to politic at such a young age, but then again, I wasn’t exactly a normal child.
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The Ministry Yule Ball
The grand ballroom of the Ministry of Magic was filled with opulence—glistening chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, enchanted glow over the polished marble floors. Witches and wizards in their finest robes milled about, engaged in whispered conversations, their eyes constantly assessing, calculating. This was the world of politics, where every word, every gesture could shift allegiances.
I stood at the edge of the crowd, observing. Beside me, Sirius was making the rounds, shaking hands and exchanging quick words with political figures. It was strange how even here, in the midst of a celebration, there was always something brewing beneath the surface.
As for me, I was treated as both a curiosity and a minor player. Most people couldn’t decide whether to address me seriously or treat me like a child. Dancing with some of the younger witches—including one or two girls who barely reached my shoulder—was awkward, to say the least. But I knew how to play the game. Smile. Be polite. Don’t reveal too much.
Between the meaningless small talk and awkward dances, I kept my mind on more important things. I needed to keep track of the movers and shakers in this room. After all, alliances would matter soon enough.
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Harry’s POV
The Yule celebration at Sirius’s home had been... wonderful. It was strange, but for the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere. I had gifts that weren’t second-hand hand-me-downs from Dudley or things hastily thrown together. Sirius had gotten me a brand-new Nimbus 2001. I had stared at the broom for a good few minutes in shock before Sirius had ruffled my hair and told me to get used to it.
Marlene and Andromeda were there too, making it feel more like a family gathering than I’d ever experienced. But then there was the looming Yule Ball at the Ministry, and I could feel my nerves setting in.
"Relax, Harry," Sirius said with a grin, giving me a light shove as we walked into the grand hall. "You’ll be fine. You’ve survived Hogwarts so far, haven’t you?"
I wasn’t sure that surviving Hogwarts was the same as surviving an event filled with politicians and important people. My hands were already clammy as I adjusted my dress robes for the hundredth time.
I spotted some familiar faces—Daphne Greengrass, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, and even Neville Longbottom with their families. Daphne caught my eye from across the room and gave me a small nod. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I hoped it was friendly.
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The Ball’s Conversations
As I made my way toward the familiar faces of my friends, I couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversations from the adults. Words like "security," "Voldemort," and "Hogwarts" kept cropping up, reminding me that this wasn’t just a celebration—it was a political stage.
"Daphne!" I called as I reached her, a little more confidently than I felt. "Enjoying the ball?"
She raised an eyebrow at me, her cool demeanor as usual, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "As much as one can enjoy being paraded around by one’s parents." She gestured toward her father, who was deep in conversation with someone in the corner. "But at least the company’s decent."
We fell into conversation, joined by Susan and Neville, and soon enough, it felt more like a gathering of school friends rather than a formal event. Even Ron, who wasn’t exactly fond of Daphne, managed to get along.
"Yule break’s been good?" Neville asked, trying to ease into the conversation.
"Good enough," I said. "Though I’m not sure about this whole ball thing. Feels... strange."
Daphne shrugged. "Welcome to politics, Potter. You’ll get used to it."
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Daphne Greengrass’s POV
The Yule break had been quiet, as it usually was with my family. My father was busy with work, and my mother was preoccupied with making sure the house was ready for the Ministry Yule Ball. But the real chaos was, as always, my younger sister Astoria. She had developed a fascination with Harry Potter after hearing about how he had saved me and Tracey from that troll. I couldn’t go two minutes without her asking about him.
As for me? Well, Potter was... interesting. He wasn’t what I expected—a bit awkward, sure, but more genuine than most people at Hogwarts. I respected that. I hadn’t quite decided how I felt about him, but at the very least, I owed him for the troll incident.
When the Yule Ball came around, I expected the usual—dancing, formalities, and endless discussions about politics. But seeing Potter there, slightly out of place yet trying to navigate the event, was oddly... endearing. When he asked me to dance, I agreed, though more out of curiosity than anything else.
"Your sister’s been asking about you," I teased as we danced, keeping my tone casual but knowing full well what I was implying.
Potter blushed slightly. "I, uh, didn’t realize I was that interesting."
"Oh, you have no idea," I replied dryly. "Astoria’s practically obsessed with the idea of the 'great Harry Potter.' She’ll probably want to meet you someday."
He chuckled nervously but quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. I could tell the idea of life debts and political alliances wasn’t something he fully grasped yet, and maybe that was a good thing. For now, at least.
As the night wore on, we exchanged more conversations—some about school, others about our families. I realized that despite all the fame and attention, Harry Potter was just a boy trying to find his way. That, more than anything, made me see him differently.
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End of Chapter