Chapter Sixteen
“How are we going to find dates for the Yule Ball?” Ron moaned as we sat down for lunch.
“Don’t think of it as romance, think of it as strategy. Harry, you are the Boy Who Lived and a Triwizard Champion. The spotlight will be on you. Since you’re not romantically involved with anybody, I would recommend taking somebody that will benefit you politically. This will mean a Slytherin or a Ravenclaw who’s from a dark family but is not evil themselves, or a visiting student from Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. Somebody who understands that this would just be for appearances and alliances, not any romance,” I explained. “Of course, you don’t have to and you can take whoever you want.”
“Are you offering to find me a date?” Harry asked eagerly, both he and Ron perking up.
“You will have to do the actual asking, but yes, I can make a list of candidates. Do you have any preferences? I know Quidditch players are your type, but this isn’t a romantic relationship, merely a mutually beneficial public appearance,” I said.
“I have a type? I guess that makes sense, Quidditch players are so cool. Um, I guess somebody who’s not a complete airhead and I can have a conversation with? Otherwise I don’t really care as long as I have a date. Like you said, it’s not a relationship,” Harry said.
“Great, I’ll see what I can do,” I said.
“What about you?” Hermione asked.
“Well, I’m mentally eighteen and I do think of myself as eighteen, so if I do take someone, I’d want somebody who is seventeen or eighteen. I’ll either ask a boy or girl from Durmstrang or Beauxbatons or go by myself.”
Harry nodded and turned back to his lunch, looking deep in thought. I took the opportunity to survey the Slytherin table and our own table, including where the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students were sitting. Probably a Hogwarts student, somebody who didn’t want to join Voldemort. Harry taking a Slytherin would send a powerful message that we weren’t judging people on their family’s actions. I was on good terms with most of the Slytherin girls and some of the Slytherin boys in our year. I pondered the benefits of a fifth year versus somebody in our year. Somebody who Harry was already familiar with would be best.
“Any thoughts?” I asked.
“Who all in our year has expressed interest in not joining Voldemort?” Harry asked.
“Of the Slytherins, there is Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass who want to join the Order, although Theodore and Pansy want to spy so they wouldn’t be good ideas. Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode and Tracey Davis will also likely want to be as neutral as possible, but I’m not sure if they would be willing to go with you. Millicent definitely won’t because of possible backlash from her family.”
“Of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, nobody is from a Dark family, but there are a few from Gray families. Anthony Goldstein and Ernie Macmillian are from noble gray families. The other non-noble children of our year tend to be light or politically uninvolved and I’m not sure about their families,” I admitted.
“Aren’t you friends with Daphne Greengrass?” Harry asked.
“Well, maybe not friends per say. Most of the Slytherins prefer the term ‘allies’ to ‘friends’ and she doesn’t really do emotions, but I trust her about as much as I trust anybody outside of our group. She would be a good choice for a date and likely willing to go with you,” I said.
“Great, can you ask her?” Harry asked.
“No, nice try. You’re a big boy, you can ask her on a date yourself,” I said with a smile.
“How do I do that?”
“Forget anything vaguely romantic, it would be entirely political. Ask her to talk sometime after classes, not at a meal because that’s too public. Then ask her if she would like to go with you to the Yule Ball as acquaintances. Stress that it would be non-romantic and a mutually beneficial opportunity. If she questions your motives, say that I advised you to go with someone from a dark family but willing to go with you as a political message, but only say that if she asks. She’s smart enough to guess that herself,” I advised.
“Got it. Should I get flowers? Girls like flowers, right?” Harry asked.
“Do not get flowers. She’ll think that’s ridiculous and childish. Ask her if she wants to come with our group the Hogsmeade weekend in December when we are getting dress robes together. We’ll be flooing to Diagon Alley and going to Raina’s Robes. I’ve already made an appointment, we’ll have the store to ourselves. I’m paying, it’s an early Yule present,” I said.
The entire castle was excited about the upcoming ball. Apparently there was a graduation ball for seventh years, but otherwise no official school dances.
Dean and Seamus from Gryffindor, who were both in the metaphorical closet, agreed to take Luna and Ginny as they needed a fourth year to attend with. Maggie asked Neville to the dance as friends for the same reason. Many of the fourth years were finding it easy to get a date as there were plenty of third years clamoring to attend the dance.
Daphne had agreed to go with Harry to the dance and accepted his offer of getting dress robes with us. Hermione showed little interest in finding a date, yet continued to sigh loudly and roll her eyes when Ron complained about how girl were too scary to ask to the dance.
“Was Potter asking me to the dance your idea?” Daphne asked me as I ate breakfast at the Slytherin table. Ron and Harry were at the Gryffindor table talking to Neville and Hermione had her nose buried in a book.
“I gave him a rundown on the political leanings of everyone in our year and since he knows we are friendly and that you are opposed to your family’s, uh, social circles, he decided to ask you,” I told her.
“Hmm, at least Potter is respectful enough. And it’s nice to already have a date while everyone else is stressing over who to take,” Daphne said.
“My mother is taking me to get new dress robes for the ball. She told me I should try and get a Durmstrang boy from a noble house to go to the dance with,” Millicent said.
“Everybody’s trying to get a good date to go with. We’ve all already gotten owls from our parents telling us we need to find a good date. It’s just a dance, it’s not a betrothal,” Pansy said with an eye roll.
“I asked Theo to the ball,” Tracey said. “Ever since his father’s ever so unfortunate death, he’s had some more freedom. Lord Nott doesn’t care that I’m a halfblood since I’m in Slytherin, follow the Old Ways and it’s just a dance, not a betrothal.”
“I’m waiting for Draco to stop moping and ask me to the ball,” Pansy said. “He’s terribly upset that Daphne is going with Potter.”
“Are you looking for a date, Hawk?” Blaise Zabini asked, leaning over and sending me a flirtatious wink.
“I’m flattered, but uninterested, Blaise. Nothing personal, you’re simply not my type and I’m looking to take somebody from Durmstrang or Beauxbatons,” I explained, politely turning him down.
“In that case, I have a half-sister through my mother, Emilia Zabini, who is part of the Beauxbatons contingent. My mother is interested in the benefits of an alliance with you and yours, both individually and in her official role as Representative of Europa. I could introduce you to Emilia if you would like?” Blaise offered.
Ah, so this wasn’t just Blaise’s usual flirtatious behavior. Contessa Zabini was a formidable political power both in Europa and internationally, as both an influential member of the nobility and Europa’s representative in the ICW. It would seem she had taken notice of me, which was mildly terrifying.
“I would be delighted to make her acquaintance,” I said with a smile.
Blaise arranged for me to meet his sister and take a walk around the Lake together. It was technically in public, but with no nearby eavesdroppers, a setting that could either be an informal first meeting or any number of other situations to a casual observer.
“Zo, this is Emilia Zabini, my sister. Emilia, this is Zo Hawk, one of my classmates,” Blaise said introducing us.
Emilia was dressed in elegant daytime robes, her hair pinned up in an elaborate bun and her dark skin glinting in the winter sunlight.
“Signora Zabini, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” I said with a respectful nod of my head.
“Miss Hawk, I am delighted to meet you. Please call me Emilia,” the other witch said.
“Of course Emilia. Please, call me Zo,” I said.
“Shall we?” she asked, nodding to the path that looped around the Great Lake.
“How are you enjoying Hogwarts?” I asked politely. It was a long walk around the lake and small talk was probably best to start off with.
“It is very interesting and I am glad I am spending the year here. You are American, yes? Why did you decide to come to Hogwarts instead of Ilvermorny?” Emilia asked.
“My grandmother was a squib from England and was sent to a muggle boarding school in America when she turned eleven. When we found out I was a witch, she really wanted me to go Hogwarts and told me all about the school,” I said, telling her the backstory I had created in my first year.
My fictional grandmother had passed away halfway through my first year, handily leaving me with a lot of money and no living family left. It explained away my knowledge of Hogwarts despite being a muggleborn, why I was at Hogwarts instead of Illvermorny and why I was living by myself. Considering my fake grandmother had lived entirely in the muggle world from her childhood onwards and most wixen didn’t know how to navigate the muggle world in Britian let alone in another country, I was confident nobody would dig too deep into my story.
“Ah, so you already knew about magic? Blaise tells me that you are quite talented and can perform spells several years above you wandlessly and wordlessly,” Emilia flattered as she dug for information.
“Oh no. My grandmother didn’t tell me about her past until after we had been informed I was a witch, although she likely picked up on my accidental magic as a child. But she told me all she could and I did a lot of research into the magical world before I ever stepped foot onto the Hogwarts Express. I must admit I did not look into what exactly the other magical schools were like. Could you tell me about Beauxbatons?” I asked, steering the conversation away from my fake past.
“Well, it is in a beautiful palace. We do not have houses the same way you do. For classes our year is frequently split up into smaller groups. In addition to our magic lessons, we have several electives and optional seminars on subjects such as ballroom dancing, calligraphy, fencing, archery, art, music lessons and so on. It is a truly enchanting academy,” Emilia said.
“Do you have plans for after Beauxbatons?” I asked.
“My mother will further instruct me in politics as I will take on various projects with her guidance. One of the things she has tasked me with is evaluating Albion’s political climate given you stand on the brink of yet another civil war and deciding what we should do,” Emilia said.
Well then, small talk was over and we were onto why we were really meeting.
“Yes, I will freely admit our government is not the most just or stable by any means. Andromeda Tonks, who is serving as Regent for Harry until he comes of age, has been working towards equality, anti-corruption measures and justice for all, yet there is still a long ways to go. Much like last war, it would appear the Order of the Phoenix will be doing most of the fighting against Voldemort,” I said.
“My sources tell me you are offering sanctuary to the children of Death Eaters who do not wish to join the Dark Lord?” Emilia asked.
“Yes, I am helping any children who want to get away from their families. There are a few options I have created, some who wish to join the Order, some who just need a place for the summer, some who have siblings they are bringing under the age of eleven. Nobody is required to join the Order of the Phoenix. Furthermore, the Order will only allow those of age to join, with summer internship options for those over fifteen. I’m also working on figuring out how to help muggle families with muggleborn children who wish to move abroad, given they exist both in the muggle and wixen world.”
“Indeed. I will speak to my mother. She may agree to assist you in your plans, particularly when it comes to the muggleborn refugees. In the meantime, I would love to attend the Yule Ball with you, if you are amenable,” Emilia said.
“I would be delighted,” I smiled.
“Excellent. I’ll meet you in the Entrance Hall at fifteen to eight,” Emilia said.
The Christmas decorations were even more elaborate and grand than usual. Peeves wasn’t belting out any dirty carols. McGonagall must have gotten Dumbledore to rein him in for the holiday season.
The entire fourth year gathered together at the start of the month to draw names for our Holiday Gift Exchange. I got Sally Ann-Perks. Hermione got Jasper Cauldwell. Harry got Parvati Patil. Ron got Seamus Finnegan.
“So you’re going with a girl to the Yule Ball?” Harry asked as we sat studying in the Room of Requirement.
“Yeah, Blaise’s sister from Beauxbatons,” I said, glancing up from my book on the International Confederation of Wixen.
“In the Wizarding World can- I mean, is it okay- If two boys or two girls, err…” Harry said, stumbling over his words. Right, Harry had grown up in the muggle world and probably hadn’t researched societal romance standards like Hermione and I had in first year.
“So how much do you know about the wixen queer community?” I asked.
“The what now? That’s allowed?!?” Harry asked.
“Okay then. Get out some parchment and take notes,” I instructed, conjuring a chalkboard.
“The Wizarding World has vastly different standards than the muggle world when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community. Also, I don’t even think LGBTQIA+ is a term yet. Wix just use the word queer. There’s not all the individual terms for gender and sexual orientation, so I’m going to be using the muggle terms. Queer is not a slur like it is in the muggle world, it’s just an umbrella term. Same sex couples are quite common. It’s a little different among nobles, because of the importance of reproducing and having biological heirs, but magic provides lots of opportunities that don’t exist yet in the muggle world.”
“I don’t understand the science of it, but two men can have a male or female child that is the biological child of both of them and two women can only have a female child that is the biological child of both of them. It has to do with the X and Y chromosomes, because you need a X and Y for a boy whereas a girl has two Xs. I’m not entirely sure, I only have a passing knowledge of genetics. Science really isn’t my strong suit and I only really glanced at how it’s possible. If it’s a male gay couple then they’ll generally use a surrogate. If it’s a lesbian couple then one of them will carry the baby or they’ll also use a surrogate.”
“There’s also blood adoption, where you can essentially adopt a kid and then they’re your blood kid. The book I read didn’t go into the science details, but the kid has the genes of the adopted parents and the biological parents. However, because of the laws on blood magic, that’s illegal in Albion so people mainly have bio kids now.”
“Trans people are also common enough. It’s generally accepted that sometimes people are born the wrong gender and there’s no shame in that. There is a potion regime that you can use to change gender. You have to be at least eleven for medical reasons relating to puberty and have parental permission or wait until you are seventeen, but you can easily change gender through St. Mungo’s.”
“Nonbinary and gender fluid people are less common but are becoming a thing among our generation and the half generation or so above us. Some of the older people are bigoted about it though. Non binary is when somebody is neither a girl or a boy. Most nonbinary people use they/them pronouns although some use he/his or she/hers or use the less common xe/xem or ze/zers. Genderfluid is when somebody changes genders and their pronouns generally change with their gender. Some people also use multiple pronouns.”
“As a general rule, the magical community is more accepting than the muggle world, but the muggle world changes in the near future. I grew up in liberal west coast America in the 21st century and there was generally the same attitude as the magical community now has. To my knowledge, only the general pride flag has been created in the muggle world, but the bisexual flag should be created soon, then the original LBTQ flag. I’m pretty sure it was made at some point in the nineties.”
“Some of my neighbors are two old ladies who are married. They run a small knitting business. It’s where Mum gets her yarn and knitting needles from,” Ron inputted. “Everybody likes them. They would always give Ginny and I cookies when Mum would take us with her to get yarn.”
“So liking boys is okay?” Harry asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“But what if I like both boys and girls?” Harry said.
“That’s called being bisexual, or pansexual depending on how you prefer to identify. I identify as bisexual, even though I’m also attracted to non-binary and genderfluid people because bisexual was the term I learned about and built an identity around. I also identify as sapiosexual, which means I’m attracted to smart people. There’s also no pressure to decide how you identify right away. Remember, I am eighteen even if I’m in a fourteen year old body and I grew up with this being a normal part of life,” I explained.
“Oh, thanks for explaining that,” Harry said.
“No problem. When I was in middle school, which is basically secondary school, I had a friend who explained all of the terminology and flags to me and helped me figure out how I identify,” I smiled.
“So everyone is okay with two boys dating?” Harry double checked.
“Mostly and if they’re not, it’s okay to punch them or hex them,” I said.
“How closely related am I to Malfoy again?” Harry asked curiously.
“Third cousin through the Black side. Maybe once removed, I’d have to check. But you’re good, third cousins are far enough away that it's okay to date. It’s second cousins dating that raises eyebrows, although even that is not unheard of in the upper class,” I said.
“I don’t want to date Malfoy!” Harry spluttered.
“Of course not,” I agreed easily. Hermione raised a book to hide her face as she shook with laughter.