Chapter Seventeen
The Hogsmeade outing right before Christmas was crazy popular. The Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students had received permission from their respective schools to go to the town with the rest of the Hogwarts students.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Daphne and I made our way down the Main Street to the Hog’s Head. Already there was a line of students waiting to utilize the bar’s floo to leave Hogsmeade. We paid Aberforth the required fee and got into line behind a group of Gryffindor boys.
“What is so popular about the floo?” Daphne asked.
“It’s warded against any tracking, you can think your destination instead of shouting it and most importantly, Aberforth won’t tattle on the students breaking rules. Of course plenty of more shady people use it, but they generally clear out on Hogsmeade weekends due to the risk of being reported by a student for criminal activity,” I explained.
“You’ve never snuck out beyond Hogsmeade?” Harry asked.
“I’ve been to Hogsmeade on non-approved weekends before, but never beyond that,” Daphne said with a shrug.
We reached the front of the line and flooed to the Forma Alley public floo and walked the rest of the way to Raina’s robes.
“Ladies, gentleman, please have a look around and let me know if you have any questions,” Madam Raina said, gesturing to her store.
“What are your initial ideas?” Hermione asked. “I want something flowy and airy.”
“Sparkling like the night sky,” I said.
“A suitable outfit befitting my station and position as Heir of House Greengrass,” Daphne said.
Hermione and I stared at Daphne.
“I thought part of you going with Harry was showing your family that you are rejecting their beliefs and forging your own path and whatnot?” Hermione asked.
“Well, I don’t agree with them politically. But I am still the Heir to a Noble and Ancient House and will look every inch the part,” Daphne said, running her fingers over a green fabric sample.
“Because you want to or because you feel that it is expected of you?” I asked.
“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me?” Daphne asked, shutting down the questions into her motivations.
“She does that,” Hermione remarked wryly. “Wait, do wixen even use the term psychoanalyze?”
“While I do find the muggle world to be uncouth and barbaric as a whole, I consider muggle academia worth studying in some regards,” said Daphne, who apparently read psychology books in her free time.
“Precisely. Muggles have made more scientific advancements than we have with magic, it’s definitely worth learning, especially if you have preconceived notions about muggles taught to you from a young age,” I said excitedly to Daphne.
“Your ability to turn any conversation political amazes me,” Hermione said. “But more importantly, what do you think of this dress with those shoes?”
On the second weekend of September, the fourth year met up for our annual gift exchange. I gave my gift of enchanted yarn to Sally-Ann Perks, who enjoyed knitting. Justin Finch-Fletchly got me a notebook, quill and ink set. One could never have enough notebooks.
The party went well, with most of the conversation centering around gossip about the upcoming Yule Ball. Krum was going with a seventh year named Eleanor Shirasagijo. Fleur was going with Roger Davies, the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team. The Weird Sisters were strongly rumored to be performing at the dance.
“Nearly everyone in the year has found a date. All the girls I asked turned me down,” Ron moaned as we sat in the Ravenclaw Common Room after classes.
“Find a third year. There are plenty of them who would love a chance to go to the ball,” Harry said.
“I already asked three. All of them either have a date or don’t want to go. And those in our year left don’t want to go with someone. Imagine, those girls wanting to go by themselves,” Ron scoffed.
“And what’s wrong with that? Plenty of girls would rather enjoy the evening with their friends rather than have to be saddled with some boy whose only going with them because they look pretty. All of your complaining about poor Eloise Midgen and her nose. Did it ever occur to you that Eloise is a perfectly sweet girl? No, you were just focused on her outwards appearance. Perhaps you were as conceited to think that there would always be some girl desperate to go out with you, but there isn’t. I know as a fact that Eloise is going to go as a group with the rest of the Hufflepuff girls in our year, all without dates and they are going to have a wonderful time. Girls don’t need a date to enjoy the dance,” Hermione said, eyes blazing as she glared down Ron.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Ron protested. “Harry, back me up mate.”
Harry, confronted with an angry Hermione, had retreated behind his upside down Divination textbook and was desperately trying to merge with his armchair.
“How did you mean it? Because all your complaining has come from a misogynistic, patriarchal viewpoint based on the assumption that women need men when anybody with half a brain could tell you it’s the opposite. Zo is only going on a date to forge better political relationships with other countries. Daphne is only going with Harry because it will make her look good and prove a point to her parents. I am not going with anybody because I would rather have fun with my friends than deal with some leering boy all night,” Hermione said.
“That’s it. Hermione you’re a girl,” Ron exclaimed, with the tone of someone discovering a miracle.
“That is what you are focusing on?” Hermione asked, tone scathing.
“I just think of you as a friend and I forgot you’re a girl?” Ron tried.
Hermione scoffed, threw her book at Ron’s head and stormed up to our room.
“I didn’t mean to insult her, or girls in general. Honest!” Ron exclaimed, turning to Harry and I. “I just meant that, well, everyone, both boys and girls are all finding dates to the dance and I guess I just thought I needed one too? I didn’t mean that it was surprising the girls wanted to go to the dance by themselves, just that anybody would want to go to the dance by themselves and I’ve only asked girls because I don’t like boys, just girls. But girls are so scary and it’s hard to ask them. And then I thought, Hermione’s a girl and she doesn’t have a date and we could go as friends and then we would have dates, but we would still be together as friends, but I said it all wrong. Now Hermione hates me and is going to kill me in my sleep.”
“Sounds rough, buddy,” Harry said.
“Then say all of that to her and apologize. Hermione’s reasonable enough, she’ll give you a lecture on the patriarchy and respecting people and being careful with your words, but then she’ll forgive you,” I told Ron.
Ron nodded and stood up, then turned back towards me “Uh, I can’t get into the girl’s dorms unless I’m Digger and everyone would see that.”
“Don’t go now, you idiot. If you burst into her room, she really would kill you. Wait for her to cool off, then apologize when she comes down for dinner.”
“Right. Fancy a round of chess Harry?”
I sighed and turned back to my fascinating book on medieval magical warfare.
When Hermione came down for dinner, Ron apologized profusely and elaborately, practically begging for her forgiveness. Hermione lectured him and then agreed to go with him to the ball as friends since it was so important that he was officially going with someone.
With the crisis averted, I went back to planning Yule presents for my friends. Fortunately, Dora had a squib friend who was rather well versed in hacking and perfect for what I had in mind.
On the day of Yule itself, I spent the afternoon analysing the strengths and weaknesses of a magical ward scheme with Hermione’s help. In the evening, I put on a velvet dress of deep red and snuck down to the dungeon passageway that led to the Forest.
“Yule is the darkest time of the year, the end of the year and a time of celebration. Make merry, celebrate and party enough to last through the coldest part of the year is the tradition behind it,” Pansy said as we walked down to the Forbidden Forest.
“It’s also typical for witches to wear crowns of leaves, mistletoe, evergreen, laurel, yew, holly, even pinecones sometimes,” Tracey Davis. “There’s a lot of symbolism behind what you put in your crown, like mistletoe can either mean you are interested in a courtship or in a courtship depending on how much. Unless you want to date someone or are dating, you shouldn’t use mistletoe.”
“Got it,” I said.
We emerged from the tunnel into the Forbidden Forest. Rather than a bonfire like there was at Samhain, there was an altar in the center of the clearing with a yule log in a fire, candles and natural decorations such as pine cones, leaves, and winter flowers. In the same place where the table of food was last celebration, there was a table with similar flora and several witches crafting.
“Let’s go make our wreaths,” Millicent said, bounding over to the table.
“The trick is to use sticking charms once you shape your crown as you want it,” Daphne murmured, as we grabbed various leaves and branches.
“How are evergreen branches with primrose and snowdrops?” I asked.
“Solid choice, if a bit common. It will look nice,” Daphne said.
I grabbed a handful of evergreen branches and began to weave them into a crown wreath. Then, I tucked the flowers in and placed the crown on my head, careful not to snag it on my braids.
When the Youth Priestess stepped forward, everyone quited and moved to hold hands in a circle around the yule log altar.
It’s a long, long night
It’s a long, long night
We journey through the darkness,
it brings us insight in the long, long night.
We chanted various verses, led by the Priestess. The words going in the different chants went from those of solemn rituals to upbeat festive songs.
“Now, let us feast!” the Priestess delacred.
The table that had previously been used for making crown wreaths was now laden with food and surrounded by chairs.
“Yule is rather meat heavy, especially compared to the other holidays, but there will be enough vegetarian side dishes I think,” Daphne said as we sat down.
“Got it,” I said.
The Yule feast was fairly similar to the Hogwarts Christmas feast, if a little simpler. After the feast was dancing and dancing. It had a festive, merry air whereas Samhain was solemn.
The dancing went on and on, even as people took brief breaks to get some more food or sit down. The festivities began to wind down as the Priestess gently encouraged some of the first and second years to head back to the castle and go to sleep. Millicent, who had done a lot of dancing and was very tired out, and I headed back along with the first wave of departing kiddies.
On the day of Christmas itself, we woke up and headed to the Room of Requirement to meet up with Neville and the other Weasleys from Gryffindor.
“Breakfast first, then presents,” Hermione declared, sitting down at the table of food that Dobby had prepared.
“But presents,” Ron protested.
“Wow, you’re turning down food? You must be really eager for presents,” Ginny said, practically drowning her pancakes in syrup.
We all hurried through our breakfast and moved over to the table holding a pile of presents. Hermione gave everyone books; mine was a book on the analytical history of wars in Albion. There were pranks inventions from Fred and George, more books from Harry and Ron, a notebook from Maggie, rare herbs from Neville, candy from Ginny and enchanted thread from Luna.
“Okay, here are mine,” I said, handing out little packages to everyone.
“Driver’s licenses?” Hermione asked, opening the present.
“Fake IDs for the muggle world. They should hold up to scrutiny. Everyone has fake names but ones that you should be able to remember and it says you are around two years older,” I explained.
“Awesome,” Maggie exclaimed.
“Would you like to go for a ride, Gred Prewett?” Fred asked.
“Why I would be delighted to, Forge Prewett,” George replied.
“I tried to use parent’s names, similar names or names that could be shortened to your nickname and then your mothers’ maiden name for your surname,” I explained. “So James Evans, Warwick Fortesque, Aaron and Virginia Prewett, Helen Puckle, Aelin de Faye, you get the idea.”
We spent the afternoon relaxing in the Room of Requirement before Hermione and I went back to our room so that we could adequately prepare for the Ball. Ginny, Maggie and Luna joined us, carrying their dresses, makeup supplies and hairbrushes with them.
“Not to brag, but I’m great and braiding hair in elaborate styles and I know some of hair styling charms, so I would be happy to help with your hair,” I offered.
“I’d like two small braids going from my temples to the back of my head and meeting in a small bun, with the rest of my hair lightly curled, if you can do that,” Maggie said.
“Absolutely, take a seat at my desk,” I smiled.
Luna opted to wear her hair loose and free, Ginny decided to go with a simple twisted style and Hermione piled her frizzy curls on top of her head with liberal use of hair charms. I put my hair in several braids, looping around my head.
“I’ve been experimenting with makeup charms and we have time if this goes wrong,” Ginny assured us, pulling out her wands.
After a few mishaps, which Luna was a good sport about, Ginny got the hang of casting makeup spells on other people and managed to apply all of our makeup. Cosmetic charms were so much better than manually applying facial products and struggling to get my eyeliner wings even. Plus they stayed on under extreme circumstances and didn’t smear.
Once hair and makeup was done, we put on our dress robes. Ginny had decided to reject the bright green and pink dress Molly had bought her in favor of one of my old dresses. Maggie also opted for one of my hand-me-downs. Luna was wearing a glittering white dress that shimmered with reflected rainbows whenever she moved. Hermione’s dress was a periwinkle blue color and made from an airy, floaty fabric. Mine was purple, covered with gold glitter and swished around my legs when I moved.
“It’s only seven. We made great time,” Maggie said, casting a quick Tempus.
“We should go check on the boys,” Hermione said.
We ran into Ron and Harry in the Ravenclaw Common Room, where they were coming inside, covered in snow.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
“Snowball fight. The twins are vicious,” Harry said.
“You need to get ready, quick. We should be in the Entrance Hall by 7:30 for pictures,” Hermione said.
“Pictures?” Ron asked.
“Yes Ron, pictures. We discussed this. Colin is taking pictures of everyone. He put up a pamphlet on all the common room boards. Now, go, you need to shower and put your outfits on,” Hermione said. “Hurry.”
Harry and Ron came back downstairs a few minutes after 7:30, and we made our way to the Entrance Hall. Everyone was dressed in their very best, illuminated by twinkling fairy lights and candles. Maggie, Luna and Ginny headed over to where the Gryffindor boys were grouped together.
“I think I see Emilia. I’ll be right back,” I murmured, weaving my way through the crowd.
“Zo, happy Yule,” Emilia said as I approached.
“Happy Yule Emilia. My friends and I are going to get our pictures taken, if you would like to join,” I said.
“Of course.”
Colin had a full setup, with his camera on an adjustable stand facing one of the walls. The other Gryffindor boys were greeting people as they approached and selling the photos.
Hermione, Ron, Harry, Daphne, Emilia and I posed for a few photos, then walked over to where Bobby Baker and Beckett Dobbs were advertising the photos. They had gotten the various photos to project onto the stone walls.
“It’s a galleon for two photos, two galleons for five photos and four galleons for twelve photos out of any of these. Payment can be made now or upon delivery of the photo, which should take a few days,” Beckett said, gesturing to the four projected photos.
“Six of the one in the top left and six of the one in the bottom left,” Harry said. “We can each have two photos to remember tonight.”
“Excellent. Will you be paying now or later?” Beckett asked as Bobby scribbled something down in a book.
“Uh, later,” Harry said.
The Durmstrang contingent arrived shortly after. Krum was with Eleanor Shirasagijo, a seventh year Ravenclaw who worked as a teacher’s aide and helped tutor the younger kids. A handful of other sixth and seventh year Hogwarts students were going with the Durmstrang students.
“Champions, over here please,” McGonagall called, voice echoing over the chatter.
“That’s us,” Daphne said, leading Harry over to where the other two champions and their dates were heading.
The champions, after a moment of jockeying regarding who got to be first in line, swept into the ballroom. Everyone else filtered in after them.
The Great Hall had been completely transformed and looked like a wintery palace There was the High Table, at the same place as always. Instead of the four house tables, there were dozens of smaller round tables with pale blue tablecloths surrounding the open dance floor. The floor appeared to be made of ice, although thankfully it still felt like stone. The candles had been replaced with falling snow. The walls appeared to be a softer gray than their usual warm brown and were lined with trees.
We sat at a table along with Ginny, Luna, Maggie and Neville. Dean and Seamus apparently weren’t even pretending to be with Ginny and Luna, sitting with some of the other fourth year boys.
The menus had a wide array of appetizers, soups, salads, sides and main courses. A few people had figured out you were supposed to say what you wanted out loud and everyone around them was taking note.
“Tomato soup,” I said, and a steaming bowl appeared in front of me.
Over dinner we discussed Hermione’s progress with HERO (Rita would be publishing an article once winter break was over), the effort to change the Tournament to TriWixen Tournament (Ron had given up on that) and the work on preparing the Enchantlympics (we were considering expanding the different events, spreading it out over multiple days and allowing the other schools to join).
Dumbledore rose up and a set of well dressed musicians took the stage. Their faces looked familiar, they had probably played at one of the political galas I went to over the summer. The musicians started with a classical waltz and the champions got up to open the dance.
Harry looked rather nervous with all of the attention and ended up following Daphne’s lead. They danced out the song, with all the attention on the three pairs. As the next song started up, Dumbledore and McGonagall swept onto the floor, followed by the other teachers and then the students.
“Would you care to dance?” Emilia asked me.
“Gladly,” I said, taking her hand as we moved onto the dance floor. A faint buzz indicated she cast a muffling charm.
“I’ve spoken to my mother. She is willing to ensure our government allows muggleborn refugees fleeing Voldemort into Europa. Their muggle families, including siblings, would be allowed to come as well, provided that at least one of the parents has a job in the magical world. It will be good for the economy and Europa integrates muggle family members more than Albion does. The muggleborn and their family would get temporary resident status, with the opportunity to become full citizens after two years. Should they wish to get muggle visas, that could be arranged as well. Assuming you defeat Voldemort, your refugees could return to Albion or remain in Europa,” Emilia summarized as we danced.
“How generous. What would you like in exchange?” I asked, twirling around and coming back to face Emilia.
“You have become something or a rising political figure, impressive considering your age and lack of familial connections. My family would like your support with Blaise’s political career after he finishes Hogwarts as well as dealing with any potential accusations of being involved with the Death Eaters that might come from his neutrality,” Emilia said.
Ah, that was why Blaise was at Hogwarts instead of Beauxbatons. Contessa Zabini sent her younger son abroad for school to make connections and eventually become a powerful political player in another country while training her daughter as heiress.
“So, if Voldemort wins, you come out on top with Blaise as a political figure in British politics. If we win, you come out on top with your family being valuable allies who assisted us in our time of need and my support with Blaise’s political career?” I asked with a smile.
“Precisely. You winning would be better for us, and as such my family is willing to assist you with the muggleborn children, however we would manage well enough should you lose. Do we have an agreement?” Emilia asked.
While I was familiar with the Albion and parts of Muggle London, I would not be able to ensure those wishing to go to another country could do so through official channels on my own. The magical world didn’t have the same harsh laws surrounding immigrants as the muggle world, as there were rarely magical wars or conflicts causing people to flee. A handful of people could move countries without difficulty, however a mass influx of refugees caused by a civil war would require coordination and neither Fudge nor Dumbledore seemed to be aware of this. I was hesitant to agree to support Blaise’s ambitions blindly, but it was too good of a deal to pass up.
“Let’s discuss the specifics. If we lose, you continue to help the muggleborn children. Not necessarily with getting them to safety and onto the Continent, I have a few contingency plans for that. I would need you to ensure they have a place to go once there,” I clarified.
“Understood.”
“When you say help Blaise’s political career, what exactly do you mean? Is he planning on being Minister of Magic? Head of a Department? What would you want me to do? Public support? Financial backing? Shady dealings? I won’t do anything that violates my personal morals,” I said.
“Mother and Blaise are still working on developing his long term goals, which will adapt along with the political climate. Currently, I believe Blaise is toying with the idea of being Head of International Relations or Albion’s representative in the ICW. We would mainly like your public support of Blaise. I understand your political opinions are a tad more liberal than his, especially concerning creature rights, however there are not any stances of yours we would be firmly against. Any shady dealings, as you put it, would be against other political figures, not innocents or children. If you strongly object on moral grounds, you would not need to be involved,” Emilia explained.
“Very well, I agree,” I said.
“Excellent, shall we go tell Blaise the news?” Emilia asked, leading us off the dance floor without waiting for a reply.
Blaise was leaning against a pillar, flirting with a ruffled Cedric Diggory while Cho Chang looked on in amusement.
“Brother dearest, how many cups of the punch have you had?” Emilia asked fondly. “It’s been spiked with firewhisky.”
“Well at least the Weasley Twins haven’t slipped anything in it yet,” Blaise said, downing the rest of his glass as Cedric hurriedly left.
“Your classmate has agreed to support and aid you in your future political endeavors in exchange for our help with the muggleborn children,” Emilia informed him.
“How delightful!” Blaise exclaimed, slightly tipsy.
“My mother has given me the assignment of dealing with the logistics of managing your refugees. She said it will be good practice. Mother shall be ensuring the government agrees, but I’ll be organizing the housing of your refugees and enrolling the students at Beauxbatons. I’ll expect you to include Blaise in your planning. What do you have so far?” Emilia asked, walking back to the now empty table we had eaten dinner at and sitting down.
Yesterday I only had vague plans to devise a system of evacuating any muggleborn children who wished to leave the country. Now, I had an agreement with the most powerful family in Europa who seemed to expect me to have an entire system prepared. I took a sip of water as I thought.
“There are complicated laws surrounding contacting muggleborns before their eleventh birthday, so I will be focusing primarily on those currently attending Hogwarts or attending next year. There will be some muggleborns who wish to leave the country for Europa once Voldemort returns, although I expect a low amount,” I hesitated before continuing, wary of showing my hand.
“I have prophetic visions which I have relied on and thus far have been accurate. I believe Voldemort will take control of the Ministry over the summer of 1997, forcing the Order into hiding and begin legally persecuting muggleborns. I will have systems in place to move muggleborns and their families into hiding in safehouses in Albion for those who wish to stay in the country. For those that do wish to leave the country, I expect there will be a large rush after the Ministry falls. Few muggle raised wixen will believe a prophecy, especially when I will not be able to specify when precisely or if at all this will happen. That means that I would have to act after Voldemort takes over the Ministry. My plan for this is threefold.”
“First is destroying the Ministry’s system of tracking underage wixen. Their system is seperate from Hogwarts’ system and Hogwarts will act to protect the children, so there will still be a means of identifying muggleborns after the war should we win. Second is acting immediately to rescue the muggleborn children residing in the magical world at the orphanage, living with friends or at an inn before the Death Eaters can arrest or kill them and getting them to a safehouse. From there, they can decide if they wish to reside at a safehouse in the country or move to Europa. Third is reaching those who live with their families in the muggle world over the summer. Voldemort will likely have the news suppress the fact that he intends to, you know, commit genocide, and simply arrest the muggleborn children when they show up at Platform 9 and ¾ for school. That leaves a wider window of opportunity to evacuate them and McGonagall has everyone’s addresses.”
“The main problem would be once Voldemort has control of the Ministry he could lock down the magical borders, prevent anybody from apparating of portkeying out of the country. Which would mean using muggle methods of transportation to cross the international border. Planes would be too complicated, leaving a muggle boat from Dover to Calais as the best option with a few confounding charm enhanced muggle documentation for border security. It’s around a two hour trip. If you or your people could meet muggleborn refugees at Calais and take them from there, that would be great,” I finished.
“So you would mainly require our assistance should Voldemort take over the Ministry,” Emilia stated.
“Mainly, yes, although also with anybody who wished to leave the country once Voldemort returns. Also any adult muggleborns who wish to move, although as adults I imagine they will be capable of organizing that themselves,” I explained.
“For those who wish to move before Voldemort takes control of the Ministry, owl me their names, ages and information and I should have the papers completed within a week. Once Voldemort takes control of the Ministry, you can send them to Europe and we can sort out papers later. Technically, you should have official papers before moving to a new country, although the magical world does not do ‘deportation’ like the muggles do. Given they would be refugees fleeing persecution, we can overlook that,” Emilia explained.
“Alright. I’ll make sure to stay in touch. If you don’t mind, I’ll go let my friends know,” I said, getting up.
“Of course,” Emilia said. “Blaise, why don’t you introduce me to your housemates?”
I stood up and walked over to where Hermione and Ron were standing at the edge of the dance floor. Harry was dancing with Daphne, doing a not horrible job. I caught his eye and subtly jerked my head. When the dance ended, Harry murmured something to Daphne and walked over to us while Daphne went to talk with the other Slytherin girls.
“We’re officially allied with the Zabini family. They will pull strings to get muggleborn refugees temporary resident status in Europa, including housing and stuff in exchange for me supporting Blaise’s future political ambitions within the Ministry of Magic,” I told them.
“Is that what you’ve been up to?” Hermione asked in astonishment. “I just thought you were doing some sort of mutually beneficial appearing in public together thing like Harry and Daphne.”
“No, I’ve been doing politicking. This is a lot more than I initially hoped for. We’ll also work on international support, condemnation of Voldemort’s future actions and maybe even a trade embargo once Voldemort returns, but the refugees are way more important and we’re not even halfway through the year,” I explained excitedly.
“Wicked,” Ron said.
“I thought we only had vague plans involving refugees?” Harry asked.
“Well we needed foreign support first, but now we'll get a move on that. Probably some sort of information session, maybe add that onto a Hogwarts Army meeting,” I mused.
“We can do that tomorrow. Tonight it’s Christmas and we’re at a ball. Let’s dance and enjoy ourselves!” Hermione said with a smile.