Holiday In Handcuffs
A Christmas Story Written by SpiderLily
Chapter One: Presenting a United Front
December had just come to Hogwarts, and the castle was alight with holly and evergreen, tinsel and mistletoe, and the suits of armor had been decorated with poinsettias and Chris Cringle hats and been charmed to sing carols to those students who walked by. It was only the third day of the last month, and many wizarding versions of Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, and Deck the Halls could be heard around the corridors.
But something didn't feel right to one Albus Dumbledore. Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses at each other's throats more than ever, and now the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had been brought into the fray.
It had to stop, and the headmaster had just the idea with which to do it. All he would need was a bit of consultation with the Sorting Hat, readied (and selective) private rooms that were usually reserved for couples, and four pairs of magical handcuffs. . . .
Merry Christmas to all, and to all an extraordinarily eventful night.
"Are you sure about this, Albus?" the Sorting Hat croaked from its perch atop a bookshelf in the headmaster's circular office. "Two of these couples in particular will cause a ruckus among the entire school."
"Ah, and that's the beauty of it, my dear Hat," the headmaster muttered over his notes detailing the four couples.
"If you say so," the Hat murmured skeptically. "But I still don't think the method you have for the revelation of the handcuffs is going to go over well at all. . . ."
"I would like to thank everyone for attending this very special feast," Professor Dumbledore announced at his podium the very next Saturday, the day he would be announcing Holiday in Handcuffs. The students looked at him in boredom, clearly wondering why he was saying that since it was dinnertime, and everyone attended dinner.
"Tonight I would like to present the very first official United Front, an organization I invited to prevent House rivalries. The first challenge, which, if chosen, you will have to go through, is called Holiday in Handcuffs, and is designed to bring together two unlikely pairs in the seventh years. As I call out your names randomly, I wish everyone to come stand up here with me."
The Headmaster cleared his throat, and then declared, "Representing Gryffindor, Harry Potter and Parvati Patil!"
Harry blanched. Damn. And he was just hoping he was going to come out of this unscathed. So much for that thought.
"Representing Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Hannah Abbott!"
"Representing Ravenclaw, Mandy Brocklehurst!"
Albus took a drink of pumpkin juice before announcing those representing Slytherin to add to the suspense, and it worked. The whole of the Slytherin seventh years were practically bristling.
"And representing Slytherin, may I have Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, and Daphne Greengrass!"
Oh, this was going to be so much fun!
As the two remaining seventh years walked up to the podium, there was a moment of tense silence throughout the Hall as everyone waited with bated breath for something—anything—to happen.
And happen it did.
Without any warning whatsoever, each of the students was pulled to another with some sort of invisible force. Shackles appeared from midair to wrap around wrists, and the eight students struggled desperately with their newfound restrictions.
From Dumbledore's point of view, it was very amusing. Harry and Draco were glaring at each other, but didn't seem as surprised as the other couples. Parvati and Daphne were eyeing each other with disgust and Hannah was glaring in repulsion at Theodore. Mandy had turned up her nose at Justin, who seemed to be blushing.
Albus' smile seemed to waver, but then it returned full force. There were certain prices that had to be paid to present a united front.
