A Wonder

She wasn’t upset with Ryleigh but her brother was upset with Harry and Ryleigh had been with Harry when their little tat went down so she really couldn’t blame the girl for not joining them. 

They spent most of the day just window-shopping and hanging out. Luna told her the history of wackspurts and that they are the reason she was getting low scores in potions. Nothing to do with the fact that she often doesn’t brew her potions because she doesn’t  like the “energy” the potions are giving off. They made their way to a felid just on the edge of town and took a seat. The brisk November air blew against their cheeks and had them shifting closer together. 

“Harry and I spoke to Sirius last night.” Ryleigh said. 

“Oh?” 

“He sort of.. called? On the floo. I didn’t really get to talk to him much, but it was nice to hear his voice.” She said.

“I’m glad you got to hear him Ry.” Luna said with a smile. “Can I braid your hair again?” Luna asked and Ryleigh laughed, then nodded and turned her back to the blonde so she could reach her hair. 

Xx

In her free block Ryleigh usually liked to spend her time in the astronomy tower, however there was a midday class up there today talking about some sort of solar rays or something and she as such she found herself in the courtyard. Everyone had taken to wearing shifting pins in support of Cedric leaving her to stick out like a sore thumb without one. She found herself a spot under one of the trees and took out her homework. 

From across the way she saw Harry make his way to Cedric and speak with him and then go to leave. Until Draco stopped him, whining as he usually does about his father. 

She honestly couldn’t stand him, not even due to his Slytherin pride but rather his constant complaining and generally irritating attitude. 

She had a good laugh when Moody transfigured him into a weasel and and even better one when McGonagall put Moody in his place afterword. 

She had developed a rather large disdain for the man unlike any she’d had for a professor in the past. Sure Lockhart had been a dunderhead and she’s had an issue with Lupin’s early teaching but she’d never felt quite this way about one of her professors before. A sort of gut dislike for the man.

She watched with a furrowed brow as Harry walked off with him. 

Xx

The crowd was booming with excitement as the first challenge was preparing to begin. She walked in with Luna and Ginny, right up to Fred and George who were shouting about bets. 

“Bets! Place your bets here!” George called and she crossed her arms. 

“And what are your bets George?” She asked and he laughed, “only that I’ll make more money tonight then I will for the rest of the year.” He whispered to her. 

She rolled her eyes at him and took Lunas elbow in her own. 

“Come on then, let’s get some seats.” 

First up was Cedric against the Swedish Short-Snout. They watched him contemplate his choices before finally transfiguring a rock into a dog in an effort to distract the dragon. It work, sort of, he made it halfway to the egg before the dragon turned back to him and ended up burning the side of his face. He still got his egg though and passed the task. 

After Cedric was Fleur against the Common Welsh Green. She went about the task differently, enchanting the dragon to fall asleep before she retrieved her egg. Though it did snore some fire onto her skirt.

Third up was Krum, against the Chinese Fireball. He blinded the dragon before grabbing for his egg but his dragon stumbled and crushed half of the real eggs in the stadium. 

Finally was Harry and she watched with bated breath as he wondered out into the rocky ‘field’. The crowd was quiet and watching intently. As he made a move toward the golden egg the dragon attacked. Smashing his tail down next to the boy. She winced with each thump. One came particularly close to hitting and she squeezed her eyes shut. Hermione was shouting at him to use his wand and he finally listened.

‘Accio firebolt’ he cast and then continued to dodge the fire. 

When his broom arrived he jumped on top and flew around the dragon. It didn’t like that. Yanking on its chain the beast easily broke free and went flying after Harry. He led it up past the teachers bleachers and she saw Snape and McGonagall duck under the tail of the dragon. 

Harry and the dragon flew off toward the school and they all watched from a distance as he flew and dodged the angry beast. 

Then it grew silent and no one could see where they had gone. 

People whispered and shifted in their seats. 

Finally they could see Harry making his way back to the stadium and they all broke out into cheers. 

Xx

Back in the Gryffindor common room they cheered and celebrated with Harry. Ryleigh kept to the side as Fred and George lifted him up onto their shoulders. 

“Knew you wouldn’t die Harry!” 

“Loose a leg” said one twin.

“Or an arm” said the other.

“Pack it in all together? NEVER!” They shouted together. 

Then of course, Harry opened the egg and it made the worst noise she’d ever heard, and she scrambled to cover her ears with her hands. 

Then Ron came in and she sighed, not particularly wanting to be involved in another squabble between them. She decided she would take her leave of the common room then and slipped out the portrait hole. She let herself wander the halls for a while before heading toward Ravenclaws common room to see if Luna was around. 

As she reached the bottom of the tower staircase she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand upright. 

She whipped out her wand and spun around to find the same Slytherin boy, Pucey, from last year. 

“What do you want?” She snapped. 

He smirked and moved closer. She held her wand tightly in her fist as he took a few more steps closer. 

“No big bad wolf so save you this time.” He said then disappeared down the hall. 

What the hell?

Xx

When she entered the great hall that morning after care of magical creatures Ginny was already seated and eating. 

The room was laughing together as Ron held up a horrid set of dress robes.

“I’m not wearing that, it’s gastly.” Ginny said just before Ryleigh sat down.

“What’s going on?” She asked and Ginny laughed.

“My mother sent Ron these dress robes for the Yule ball.” She explained.

“What’s the Yule ball?” 

“It’s a ball for the fourth years and up, for the triwizard tournament.” Ginny explained, “we have that thing with McGonagall remember?”

Xx

Ryleigh did not remember until Ginny had said something and she was pretty sure she preferred it before she did remember. 

“The Yule ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since it’s inception. On Christmas Eve night we and our guests gather in the great hall for a night of well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school I expect each and every one of you to put your best food forward. And I mean this literally because the Yule ball is first and foremost, a dance.” McGonagall explained.

The crowd murmured loudly.  

“Silence!” She shouted, “the house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly 10 centuries. I will not have you, in the corse of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling bumbling band of baboons.”

She looked around at them, “now, to dance, is to let the body breathe. Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight. Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr. Weasley.” She said and walked toward him.

Ginny looked at Ryleigh with a poorly concealed smirk and they snickered. 

“Yes?” He asked quietly. 

“Will you join me please?” She asked and grabbed him, not giving him much choice as she dragged him up. Harry pushed him along as well and the rest of the boys laughed.

“Now… place your right hand on my waist.” 

Ron looked shocked, “where?” He whispered

“My waist.” She said again. 

As soon as he did someone on the boys side whistled loudly. 

“Extend your arm. Mr Filch if you please” McGonagall said and the man switched on the music. 

They danced with a painful look on Ron’s face before she called for everyone else to join.

The girls stood eagerly, except Ryleigh who was dragged to standing by Ginny. 

“Come on!” The red head whispered. Ryleigh groaned but followed her. 

Neville was the first to stand on the boys side, nervous for sure he walked across the empty room and approached Ginny.

He stuck out a hand and she smiled, taking it and going with him. Ryleigh smiled at them and watched as a number of people received partners. Soon enough all that was left over were herself and Hermione as well as Fred and George snickering in the background. 

Hermione grabbed her arm and dragged her through the crowd to the twins. 

“You’re dancing with us.” Hermione said firmly and the twins smiled. 

“You got it” they said together. Fred took Hermione’s hand and George took Ryleigh’s. 

They danced in awkward silence.

“Hate this don’t you?” He asked and she laughed.

“How can you tell?” She asked.

“How’d you like to come with me then? Just as friends?” He asked and she smiled. 

Xx

She watched in amusement as Harry and Ron weaved their way through the groups of girls gathered in the courtyard. 

She was sitting with Luna when a strand owl swooped down and dropped a letter in her lap. 

‘Ryleigh,

I’m sorry we didn’t get the chance to really talk a few weeks ago. I couldn’t risk you two getting caught talking with me. Have fun at the Yule Ball. I hope you’re doing well. Stay safe.

See you soon, Dad’

She smiled at the letter. 

“Where do we even get dresses?” She asked. 

“Oh I’m not going to the ball.” Luna said. 

“What?? Why! You can’t make me go alone!” She whined and Luna laughed. 

“You’re not going alone silly, George is taking you. And Ginny will be there.” 

“Lunaaaaa” Ryleigh pouted. 

“Sorry Ry. My dad and I have Christmas plans.” She said. 

“Fine….”

“You should write your mum. See about a dress.”

Xx

She sent an owl back to Sirius and then sent Beau off to her mother. A few days later Beau returned with a large parcel and dropped it on the table during breakfast. 

“That your dress?” Ginny asked.

“I’m afraid to open it.” Ryleigh said.

“Come on then.” Luna said and grabbed both girls, leading them out of the great hall. 

They walked toward Gryffindor tower and spoke the password. The common room was mostly empty so they took up the couch and unwrapped the package. 

It was a beautiful red velvet dress. Long with a poofy a leave situation going on. 

The note on top read ‘this was grandma Dahlias, I thought if you and your friends wanted to change it a bit you would like to wear it to the ball. Happy birthday Ryleigh. Love mom’

“Happy birthday?” Ginny said, shocked. 

Ryleigh blushed, “I don’t much like to celebrate it.” 

Ginny looked over at Luna, “you knew??” She asked and Luna nodded. 

“Very Sagittarius.” Was Lunas response and Ryleigh huffed. 

“Sorry Ginny.” 

“It’s fine, I’ll just plan a surprise party next year to get you back.”

“How about we don’t do that. And instead you help me with these sleeves.” 

The dress had three large poofs one at each shoulder. One at each elbow and one just before the wrist. They were separated by a tighter piece of fabric in between them. 

Ginny smiled, “we’ve got this.”

Xx

Ginny and Ryleigh were sitting in the hall when they saw Ron approaching, he dropped down beside them with a heavy sigh but didn’t say anything so they went back to their conversation. 

Then Fleur and a few of the other girls from Beauxbatton walked past, and in a rush of energy Ron shot up and practically screamed, “do you want to go to the ball with me!” 

The two girls and nearly everyone else in the hall jumped at the sound.  

Then his eyes widened and he sprinted down the hallway. 

Ryleigh and Ginny looked at each other with a grimace before taking off after the boy. They found him leaning against the wall just around the first corner. His face ghastly pale and looking as though he would be sick, they each took one of his arms and led him back to the common room.

“It’s alright Ron. It— its okay, it doesn’t matter.”

They walking him in and say him down on one of the chairs as people gathered around. 

“What happened to you?” Harry asked. 

“He just asked Fleur Delacour our.” Ginny supplied. 

“What?” Hermione asked and knelt before him. 

“What’d she say?” Harry asked.

“No, of course.” Hermione supplied rather rudely if you’d have asked Ryleigh.

Ron shook his head and Hermione gasped.

“She said yes?” 

“Don’t be silly.” Ron said back. “There she was walking by… you know how I like it when they walk… I couldn’t help it… it just sort of slipped out.”

“Actually he sort of screamed at her.” Ryleigh said. 

“It was a bit frightening.” Ginny added. 

“What did you do then?” Harry asked.

“What else? I ran for it. I’m not cut out for this Harry. I don’t know what got into me.” Ron said.

Then the twins walked by with a synchronized “Hi Harry”

“I’ve always like looking at them from behind.” Ron added and Ryleigh couldn’t help but agree with the statement, but she kept that to herself. “Oh she’s never gonna forgive me, ever.” Ron whined and then Harry ran off.

“You could go with me!” Ron shouted and she realized he was looking at her. 

She winced and looked at Ginny, “sorry Ron, I’m… I'm going with George…”

He let himself fall back against the chair with a hollow sob. 

She looked at Ginny again and the girl just sort of shrugged.