Gregory Goyle had made a horrendous mistake. A life altering, world shattering mistake. He was in the Great Hall with Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy. Unbeknownst to him, Draco had spiked Potters drink to make him highly susceptible to a single request.
Draco had meant to do something nefarious, but as a joke Zabini told Potter, “You should make an unbreakable vow to battle Goyle in the art of dance, and the loser falls down dead.”
Goyle had very little time to actually process what he was doing, and before he knew it, he was suddenly being forced to dance for his life against Harry James Potter. They were only fourteen, and the only dance Goyle knew was poorly executed ballroom.
Zabini had scheduled the battle for just before the final task of the triwizard tournament, giving Goyle 3 months to learn any type of majestic coordination. Goyle searched everywhere for someone to help him, but the most that he found were very skilled ballerinas.
Eventually, Goyle got desperate and looked to the House elves. Luckily, they were currently feuding with Hermione Granger, and Goyle was finally able to find a worthy teacher.
It was a house elf named Tootsie who’s pureblood family fired her after their son picked up on the muggle trend of breakdancing. The boy taught Tootsie how to perform the moves as a game, but when their parents found out, they blamed and fired their house elf.
Tootsie was enraged by Granger attempting to free her friends, so she decided that she’d absolutely help Goyle learn how to work the dance floor. The first step was mandatory three mile walks and a restrictive diet. Goyle felt like he was in his own personal hell, but he wasn’t going to die simply because Potter knew more dance moves than him.
He followed the regimen religiously, eventually incorporating strength training and yoga. After two weeks Tootsie decided to teach him basic steps and a baby freeze. After Goyle had a sense of rhythm and could hold the stance, he moved onto learning the helicopter.
He struggled significantly with the coordination necessary and kept kicking his own ankles. Would this be the end of him? His own demise and downfall owed to the complex movements of an impressive dance move?
Finally, after 4 days of tumultuous practice, he mastered the helicopter. It was a massive relief, and he now had two moves mostly mastered. He next needed to master the back spin. It was daunting given his large size, but it was no longer a matter of capabilities, it was a matter of necessity.
He rolled on the ground in frustration trying to swing his legs high enough for it to be an effortless glide rather than a pathetic, graceless, potato-like wiggle. After days of practice, and Tootsie crying from his worthless form, he was finally able to backspin his legs in an effortless fashion.
The next move was even more complex. The kick up. Goyle tried in vain to make his legs arch in a rainbow fashion, but time and time again, he flopped like a fish. It took two weeks for him to have the core strength to make his dying fish look like an impressive transition.
The shoulder freeze was simple enough, but his L kick looked like a failed cartwheel attempt. What was he supposed to do? A single misstep could cost him his life.
He persisted and worked even harder to become the best break dancer he could be. By the time of the dance battle, Goyle had mastered 17 dynamic and interesting moves. He was ready.
Tootsie surprised him the day of the battle with the gift of a muggle piece of clothing called a “windbreaker” with matching sweatpants. He had sweatbands to keep his eyes clear and focused, as well as his only pair of sneakers.
“Hey, Goyle, my mum called and she wants her sweatsuit back,” Hermione Granger laughed. Goyle was shocked to see Harry arrive in his standard uniform. That attire wasn’t appropriate at all for what they were about to do.
Goyle couldn’t focus on it. As per the rules of the unbreakable vow, objective skill alone would decide the winner. Goyle had worked hard and was confident in his skill. All his work, his sweat, and his tears had led him to this, the precipice of his entire life.
He’d put Tootsies lessons to good use or die trying. There was no such thing as failure. Goyle did his routine stretches and ignored the snickers of the trio behind him. Draco was remarkably indifferent about the event, but Crabbe was rooting for Goyles success.
Crabbe was the only one who respected Goyles dedication. He would sometimes sit in on practices and recommend tips that would improve the overall vibe of Goyles movements.
Finally, Blaise arrived with a magical boombox. Goyle bounced in anticipation and allowed Harry to go first. The music began, and Potter immediately began doing… the robot?
Goyle was shocked. Had Potter not prepared at all? It didn’t matter. He had a victory to claim. When it was finally Goyles turn to showcase his effort, he was lost to the rhythm of the music. He performed every stunt, and every transition flawlessly. He ignored Potters wonky moonwalk and his incorrectly done worm.
Goyle became a beacon and shining example of what dedication and a healthy dose of life threatening stakes can turn a person into. Granger and Weasley were in awe of Goyles objective talent, and even Malfoy raised a slightly impressed brow.
When the music was finally over, Harry and Goyle ended their dances in a pose. They rose to their feet and waited to see which of them would fall down dead.
To everyone’s utter shock, Potter was the one who collapsed. Goyle had defeated the boy who lived. The moment after Potter collapsed to the ground, Hagrid stumbled upon them.
Immediately, the four slytherins were taken into custody for an interrogation. It was soon made clear that the true perpetrator was Blaise Zabini. Draco’s intention and use of the potion was not inherently illegal, but Zabini’s blatant disregard of human life landed him a lifetime in Azkaban.
Crabbe and Malfoy were both able to reintegrate into wizarding society like nothing happened. Goyle however, was shunned because it was his dancing prowess that took the life of Harry Potter.
By sixth year, Goyle had enough and decided to life his life in the muggle world, where he expanded his talents and eventually opened his own studio.
Sometimes he wondered what the world could have been like if he’d have let Potter win, but he had no regrets and lived his life to the fullest by pursuing his passion.