The Yule Ball
Christmas morning had arrived and he was wide awake well before what was reasonable far too excited about getting to spend a relaxing day with Severus and his friends, well a relaxing day until the Yule Ball tonight but he wasn’t focusing on that.
He jumped out his bed and went out into the living room of the quarters in order to make his way to wake Severus up but instead he was stopped when he saw a figure lying on the couch. Before he could panic however, he recognised the man. Sirius Black was lying on his couch and since he couldn’t resist, he cast an augmente and doused Sirius in freezing water which was followed by a high-pitched squeal.
“What was that for?” Sirius whined childishly.
“I couldn’t help it, an opportunity to prank a marauder isn’t something you pass up on.” He smiled innocently.
“Harry are you alright? Are you hurt?” Severus came out the bedroom looking breathless. “I heard a shout.”
“Oh yeah be worried for him not for me who was just attacked by the little monster.” Sirius pouted.
“Well done Harry, might even get you an extra present for this.” Severus high fives him smirking at Sirius’s indignant shout.
“Yeah I’m with Severus, you just saved us about 3 hours of hassle to wake him up.” Remus grinned also exiting the bedroom. He ran over to hug the man; it had been a few weeks since he had last gotten a visit.
“Traitor. I get doused in water and he gets an enthusiastic hug.” Sirius moaned.
“How about I make breakfast to make it up to you?”
“I thought that was the plan anyway, these two are hopeless.”
“Severus makes nice meals, it’s just the baking that goes wrong.” He defended his guardian. “Remus sorry I can’t compliment that absolute disaster of an attempt.”
“Apology accepted; my food was definitely not edible.” Remus blushed.
After making breakfast and getting presents out the way, he had received more Lego, clothes, art supplies and other bits and pieces, his friends knocked on the door begging him to come and join them in a snowball fight. He readily agreed and after getting himself changed into more appropriate clothing he accepted Dracos hand and was led outside for some fun.
***
“So your tux is in the bedroom and either me or Remus can tie your tie for you. Don’t trust Sirius he will do something that shouldn’t be done.” Severus called as he walked into their quarters. It was an hour and a half before the Yule ball and he was definitely not ready for it. After spending all morning having fun with Sirius, Remus and Severus opening presents and then having a snowball fight with his friends in the afternoon, the last thing he wanted to do was go to a ball. He groaned as he headed for the shower to get himself heated up after the fun in the snow receiving a sympathetic look from Sirius as he went.
The only reason he was even looking half decent was because of Dracos excitement for tonight, he had followed through with his plans and had asked the older boy formally to accompany him which had been met with an enthusiastic happy dance and very welcome kisses. So, he sucked it up when he got dressed in the uncomfortable robes and attempted to tame his hair as Severus finished his tie.
“I would just admit defeat with your hair, James tried for years to tame it to try and impress lily and it never ended well.” Remus said ruefully.
“Yes, just embrace the messy hair, if you act like it’s planned no one would think otherwise.” Sirius advised. “Anyway, from what Remus has told me he noticed Draco likes your hair rather messy.” Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively causing him to blush.
“How would he know that?” He squeaked.
“Believe me I wish I didn’t, but he spent so long pining for you in the classroom then staring at you once you got together, I would have noticed it if I was blind.” He blushed even harder not realising they had been quite so obvious.
“Now now leave him alone, he only has a few minutes before he needs to head upstairs and I don’t think he is going for a tomato look.” Severus defended him just as a knock sounded at the door. “Who’s that?”
He shrugged and followed everyone as they headed over to the portrait door and opened it to reveal Draco standing shyly at the door holding a small lily.
“Hi I erm thought I would follow proper pure blood traditions and come pick my date up.” Draco said nervously. “And I got you this for the pocket of your dress robes. I picked a lily because usually it is your mother who sees you off on your first date, this symbolises that she is with you.”
He took the lily and placed it into his breast pocket before looking up at Draco and smiling. “Thank you, this really means a lot.” He wrapped his arm through Dracos and after waving at the adults in the doorway allowed the blonde to lead him up the the entrance hall where groups of people were waiting for their dates before entering.
“Harry, can you come join me over here.” Mcgonagall shouted sounding a bit stressed so after a quick look at Draco in confusion he walked over. “You mustn’t go in yet; the champions and their dates will be starting the evening off with the first dance so you need to wait over here, and you will be played in. So, invite your date over and please stay out with Cedric and Krum while I find Fleur.”
“My dates here professor but erm I really don’t feel comfortable starting this thing.”
“Sorry Harry but it’s tradition and sorry I should have realised Draco here was your date, if you two could just wait behind that line.” They headed over to where McGonagall pointed to where Cedric was standing with Cho Chang and Krum was standing with Hermione.
“Since when were you going with Krum.” He asked her as soon as they got over to her.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you guys, I wanted to keep it a secret so I didn’t get hounded by the girls in our year. Why do you not think I should have went with him? He probably could have chosen someone so much better.”
“He definitely could not have chosen anyone better than you. You are brilliant and you will have everyone jealous with how beautiful you look in that dress. Don’t doubt yourself ok.”
“Thank you, Harry, both you and Draco look amazing as well.”
“Well of course we do, it us.” Draco joked diffusing some nervousness from all of them. However that nervousness came back even stronger when McGongall returned with Fleur and her date, Roger Davies who was a Ravenclaw Student, and announced that they were to prepare to be going in soon.
They all lined up at the closed entrance hall doors: Fleur first, then Krum, then Cedric and finally him. When the doors opened and the music started, Fleur and Roger walked forward as people clapped and as soon as they were half way down Krum took Hermione’s arm and led the both of them down. This time as well as clapping, whispers went around the hall commenting on how amazing Hermione looked and what a surprise it was for her to be with Krum. Again, once they reached half way down, Cedric and Cho left, after giving the two of them an encouraging smile, and cheers erupted from all the Hogwarts students for the Hufflepuff champion. Now it was time for him and Draco to go, he took a deep breath to try and calm himself and gripped the blonde’s arm even tighter before moving forward. Like with Hermione and Krum, whispers immediately broke out but this time everyone was questioning wether they had just decided to go as friends or if they were actually a couple (maybe they weren’t as obvious as Remus said).
By the time they had reached the dance floor at the other end of the hall, the whispers had escalated to full blown conversations between everyone until Dumbledore called for attention.
“Our champions shall start of the first dance but as soon as the first song is done everyone feel free to come and join, staff and students included. I hope all of you enjoy your evening.”
As soon as Dumbledore stopped talking the band started playing and the dance started. He was happy to let Draco take the lead as they moved around the dance floor with the three other couples. He tried his best to relax and just flow through the dance, but he didn’t fully relax until the second song started and the rest of the students joined them bringing the attention away from him. Now he was fully relaxed, leaning into Draco and just swaying to the music as everyone around them seemed to disappear. He was vaguely aware of the music changing and the crowd around them changing as each song ended and started, but he was far to 0content to really pay much attention.
“Hey, do you want to go outside, I heard they made up some sort of gardens outside?” Draco asked quietly breaking the silence after what could have been minutes or hours.
“Yes, let’s go, I think my feet will thank me tomorrow if we take a little rest.” With their hands joined together they walked outside to where there were tall hedges with pretty flowers throughout them and fairy lights everywhere. It was truly beautiful, but he didn’t get long to enjoy it before Draco was dragging him behind a particularly tall hedge.
“Thought we could use some time alone.” The blond smirked before leaning in and capturing his lips. He sighed into the kiss never getting over how amazing it was.
“What if we are caught?” He said softly when they pulled back for air.
“The teachers are all busy inside, we will be fine.” Draco mumbled before leaning back in.
“If you say so.” He allowed Draco to deepen the kiss letting go entirely.
“Why do I keep finding you two like this.” Remus exclaimed covering his eyes causing both of them to jump apart.
“Maybe you should stop following us outside then.” Draco answered sarcastically.
“I would watch your cheek; it is much better for me to catch you than Severus. He would have your head for taking advantage of his innocent little Harry.” Remus smirked.
“Definitely not taking advantage because Harry is a a very willing participant to our activities.”
“Nope didn’t need to know that much.” Remus cringed a bit.
“Maybe we can just stop talking about it.” He blushed. “Anyway, where you purposely looking for us?” He tried to change the subject.
“I came out for some fresh air, the hall is far too crowded and it is making me a bit twitchy especially considering the moon is only a few days away.”
“I’m sure Severus won’t mind if you go back to the quarters if you are uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine just needed a minute, although you two should probably head back inside before your friends send out a search and rescue team. The number of times I have been asked if I have seen you is unreal.”
“If your sure your fine.”
“Yeah I’m fine Harry, you go have fun with your friends.”
He and Draco were bombarded by their whole friend group (and Krum) as soon as they walked into the hall.
“Where on earth where you guys, we have looked all over for you.” Tracey asked.
“Isn’t it obvious by the rumpled robes and messy hair. They have been having some fun out in the gardens.” Daphne giggled.
“How about we all go get drinks, I’m really thirsty.” He said blushing deeply and desperately trying to veer the conversation away before they were embarrassed even further.
“Nah I would quite like to know about what you have been getting up to.” Blaize said with a shit eating grin.
“Come on guys, leave them alone before Harry dies from blushing.” Hermione defended them.
“But it is so funny.” Millicent pouted.
“Stop taking pleasure in our pain Millie.”
“Draco what did I tell you the last time you called me Millie?” He heard Draco gulp. “I would sleep with one eye open tonight if I was you.”
“You friend group is so strange.” Krum whispered loudly to Hermione.
“Tell me about it.”
“I like it though, it’s as if you are family. We have nothing like that at school but the quidditch team has become a second family to me.”
“I like that, a second family.” Hermione smiled at Krum before turning to the rest of them. “Now how about we go and dance again?”
They all headed back to the dance floor, the music has changed to be slightly more upbeat allowing them to just dance wildly with each other in a misshaped circle. They were all still dancing by midnight and were eventually kicked out of the great hall by Severus and Remus, who had been forced into staying the latest since they made up the majority of the students left. Ginny and Neville were the only other students left so Remus agreed to chaperone them up to the Gryffindor Tower with Hermione as the rest of them went down to the dungeons. Severus offered to walk Krum back to the durmstrang ship but the older boy refused saying it would be alright.
They were all still hyper when they got back to the dorm room, so they played music through his mp3 he had gotten a while back and kept on dancing like lunatics through the early hours of the morning until they were all to tired to move. All the boys allowed the girls to take the beds and the boys took the spare blankets to make the floor more comfortable. All in all, it had been a good night.
***
It may have been a good night but when the newspapers arrived at breakfast the next morning it was looking like it would be an awful day.
Harry Potter – The Boy who Cheats
Harry Potter the youngest contestant in the triwizard tournament has been found to have been making his way around not only his friend group but also the rest of Hogwarts. Originally, Mr Potter was seen to be hugging Miss Hermione Granger before his first trial back in November and then at the Yule ball last week was caught being inappropriate with Draco Malfoy in the gardens(pictures for both events on page 5). I have also heard from sources that these are not the only two people the boy who lived as went out with and that he is not afraid to use his title to get what he wants .
“Yeah, it’s not rare for Harry to run into class late looking rather scruffy .” An anonymous source told me when questioned about Harry’s endeavours.
“He has been caught sneaking around at night quite a few times over the years but merlin knows what he got up to.” This answer came when the source was questioned about any unusual activities Harry gets up to.
“I was always under the impression he was into the youngest Weasley if not her then granger or maybe green grass.” This source was questioned right after the Yule Ball about Harry’s choice of date.
It seems that Mr Potter is keeping his options open to anyone around him. Is this a desperate stunt to get attention? Is this a sign of his troubled past due to losing both his parents? Or is this just the years of fame getting to his head?
Article by Rita Skeeter
He slammed the news paper down onto the Slytherin table and marched out the great hall and out to the quiet spot the twins had shown him.