Chapter Three
Grace Lovegood’s wedding was absolutely beautiful, taking place in the vast gardens of Lovegood Castle. Both the bride and groom wore floral lace robes with periwinkle and sky blue embroidered runes on the edges. The ceremony was conducted by Lord Clarence Lovegood, the Head of House and Heir Lovegood’s father, as was tradition.
The crowd went inside to the banquet hall for dinner. There was a head table for the bridal party and lots of round table seating eight of ten in the hall.
The four of us and Andromeda were seated at the same table as the Malfoys, likely due to the fact that Andromeda and Lady Malfoy were sisters. It was supremely awkward. Lady Malfoy had likely warned Draco to be on his best behaviour, because he was engaging in stilted conversation with us rather than sniping with Harry like the two did at school. After exhausting school and summer plans as easy topics, the conversation turned to Quidditch.
“Are you planning on attending the World Cup this summer?” I asked, maneuvering the conversation and kicking Harry under the table to prevent him from responding to Draco’s boasts about the Slytherin Quidditch Team.
“Indeed. Father has received seats in the Top Box, given to him by the Minister himself. We’ve purchased a new luxury tent and are planning to spend the night after the game,” Draco bragged, then remembered to ask, “Are you going to be attending?”
“Dad got tickets as part of the Ministry draw so we are all going. Even my older brothers are coming back to Albion for it,” Ron said.
“Potter, who will you be rooting for?” Draco asked.
“Err.. Ireland,” Harry said.
“Good, so will I,” Draco said smugly. “We have the better team overall, although Bulgaria does have that new seeker that everyone likes.”
“Krum, he’s amazing. Youngest person to ever make the Bulgarian team and he hasn’t lost a match yet,” Ron said.
“I wasn’t speaking to you, Weasley,” Draco said contemptuously.
“Hey, don’t talk to Ron like that,” Harry said.
The dinner plates disappeared and were replaced with desserts.
“Do you have any idea who the new Defense teacher will be?” Hermione said, attempting to salvage the conversation.
“Zo said that it would - OW,” Harry cut off and shot a glare at Hermione.
“Father says that it will be an Auror. They only have an Auror teach Defense when Dumbledore can’t find anybody else to take the position,” Draco said.
“At least Aurors are qualified. I would hate to have another Lockhart this year,” I said.
Draco glanced at his parents, then leaned in and whispered, “Did you hear about what’s happening at Hogwarts this year?”
Lady Malfoy shot her son a fond yet exasperated look.
“We did. I think it’s so exciting!” Hermione exclaimed.
“Potter, are you going to try to be the champion for Hogwarts?” Draco asked.
“No. They are putting an age line and I’d rather avoid danger if possible,” Harry said.
“A pity. The death rate is very high, particularly for champions,” Draco remarked.
The dessert was cleared away and everyone proceeded to the ballroom. The married couple danced the first dance by themselves and then the rest of the crowd joined.
“Don’t dance with anyone twice, even amongst yourselves. Go and dance with the other kids your age. No more than ten is expected at your age and remember to take a break between each dance to catch your breath and ask somebody else to dance,” Andromeda instructed.
“Once this one is done, let’s dance one dance with each other, just to get all of the embarrassing foot stepping out of the way. For all of our practice, we’ve never danced at a ball before and it will be very different. Then we can go and dance with other students,” Hermione said. “Zo, you can dance with Harry. You're the best at dancing and he needs all of the last minute help he can get.”
“Right, hold my hand, no other hand, that hand goes onto my shoulder. Okay, now basic box step. Back, diagonal, bring together, forward, diagonal, bring together. Just keep doing this,” I instructed. “It’s the most basic dance move, but you’re thirteen and you have a few more years before you have to know the more complicated stuff.”
“How am I supposed to dance with someone else?” Harry asked, keeping his eyes on his feet and following the directions I whispered.
“The other kids in our year will be understanding. Just say you know the basic box step. There is the lead and the follow, which are opposites of each other. Right now, I’m doing the lead and you’re following. Most noble kids learn both for all sorts of dances and my school had us dance whichever we were most interested in. Wixen dances are not as gender conforming as muggle dances and has more to do with position in society and/or personal preference. Of course, you’re about as high as one can get but if you aren’t comfortable with the lead quite yet, just ask to follow,” I told him.
“The dance is ending,” Harry remarked.
“Yep, and let’s head off the floor. There’s Millicent Bulstrode, she’s very sweet. Go ask her to dance. Remember to say please,” I said, nudging Harry in Millicent’s direction.
I danced with Anthony Goldstein, Pansy, Neville, Cedric Diggory, Susan and Daphne, making polite yet meaningful conversation.
Apparently everyone knew about the Triwizard Tournament for all it was supposed to be a secret. The Wizengamot had had to be informed in order to vote on it and while they were doing a better job keeping it secret than most things, most lords and ladies had told their children. The fact that it was summer break and in person gossip was preferable to owling was probably the only reason why every Hogwarts student didn’t know.
Harry told me that he had told everyone who asked that he was uninterested in competing although he was eager to watch and most people believed him. It would be helpful groundwork for denying his involvement in the Goblet choosing his name.
The newly married couple made a speech thanking everyone for coming to celebrate their wedding and then retired for the night. That was the cue that everyone else could politely leave if they so wished. I chatted with Neville and Ron by the snack table for a little while before Ron and I headed over to group up with Hermione and Harry and walked over to where Andromeda was talking with Lady Malfoy.
We walked over to where Lord and Lady Lovegood were and waited in line to thank them for the invitations and wish them a good evening. After that we proceeded to the Floo Parlor, where we flooed back to Andromeda’s house and then to the Burrow.