Here is the next chapter of The NOT Triwizard Tournament, delivered by spring break, as promised. Never mind that it's the last day of spring break...oh well, I'm still technically on time. Blame my muse bunny. She decided she had other stuff she wanted me to write before she would let me finish this chapter, which is why the first half is good (in my opinion), and the second half not so good. WARNING: big chunky paragraphs ahead.
I've got massive amounts of homework from my teachers, and that was just the beginning of term. We have been told to expect even more, so I tell you now, to all you readers who have been following this thing through, expect long waits between updates. Another reason I'm so slow is because my mind is on Hunger Games mode. I went to see it the day after it was released, and it was awesome! This is what happens when you have the author as one of the screen writers. If you are a Hunger Games fan, you have to see this. If not, still go see it.
Disclaimer: Meh. Muse bunny isn't giving me any creative material for a funny disclaimer, so I'm tossing muse bunny out to say my disclaimer, because I WON'T SAY IT! No, you can't make me! Fine, I don't own Harry Potter. Happy?
Thanks to Pablo and Baboo, and Stephy-Lou Clark-Weasley, who have reviewed every chapter of this story...both chapters. And thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, put it on their favourites list, or put it on story alert. Please review!
Chapter Three: Of Dates, Dancing, and Dung Beetles
Harry's first reaction, upon hearing that there was to be a Yule Ball, in which he was supposed to dance in front of the whole school, with a date, was to panic. He couldn't dance, and he was sure that if he asked Cho, she would turn him down. Not that he ever got the chance. She was surrounded by her friends 24/7, who giggled every time he tried to get near. He had taken to wandering around the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower, hoping to catch her alone, not that it worked. Finally, it was Luna Lovegood, whom he had gotten to know after the First Task, who had dissuaded all ideas of asking Cho.
"She's going with Cedric Diggory." Luna told him after bumping into him yet again at the entrance to the Tower "She and her friends have been talking about it all week. Personally, I think it's the Nargles. Cedric's a very nice boy, but she obsesses over him far too much."
"Oh. Thanks, Luna." Harry said glumly, all thoughts of asking Cho gone.
"Don't sound so grumpy, Harry, it attracts Wrackspurts." Luna said wisely "If you need a date, you should ask a girl you already know."
"Right. Er…" Harry thought for a moment. A girl he knew… He looked over at Luna, who seemed to have guessed what he was thinking.
"Oh, no, Harry, I already have a date!" she said brightly "Neville's taking me! He's just the sweetest, isn't he? I bumped into him after Ginny said no to him. He was pretty upset, and I could sense the Wrakspurts were getting closer, so I talked to him a bit, and cheered him up. He asked me to the ball, and I said yes. He's very gentlemanly. Ginny doesn't know what she's missing."
"Who's Ginny going with?" Harry asked.
"Oh, Seamus Finnegan." Luna said airily "He's been crushing on her since the start of this year, and he asked her, and she said yes. I do hope Ronald doesn't hurt him too bad."
"I've got a feeling what Ron does won't be nearly as bad as what the twins will do." Harry said, grinning "But, that's all the girls I know that I can ask. I mean, I don't really want to ask Lavender or Parvati."
"Dean Thomas already asked Parvati." Luna said "Her sister, Padma, told me. And Harry, the Wrackspurts must really have affected your mind, if you've forgotten your best friend."
"Uh, Luna?" Harry asked cautiously "Ron's a guy."
"I'm not talking about Ronald." Luna said, somewhat exasperatedly "I'm talking about Hermione Granger! Have you really forgotten all about her?"
"Of course not!" Harry said indignantly.
"Then ask her!" Luna said slowly, as if he were a child "I've seen Viktor Krum looking at her whenever she's in the library. He's been crushing on her, and he's going to ask her to the Yule Ball soon. Do you really want her going with Viktor Krum?"
"No!" Harry instantly replied.
"Then go ask her first, silly! She's in the library now! Hurry, if you don't want Krum to get there first!"
Harry sprinted away in the direction of the library, leaving a smiling Luna behind.
_o0O0o_
Viktor Krum was not in a happy mood.
First, he had gotten second last in the first task. Second, Karkaroff was ranting furiously on the ship everyday about how the other champions were cheating, and how they shouldn't be in the Tournament. Third, the pretty, bushy haired girl he had seen in the library, had been asked out by Harry Potter, and she had said yes. Now, he had no date to this ball.
At least the egg clue was easy. They had studied mermaids in Magical Creatures class, and he had instantly recognized the screechy voices. Now, what would he miss most?
"Oh!"
Viktor stumbled back. He had not been watching where he was going, and had bumped into a girl, one of the extra champions, he realized.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he helped her up.
"Fine, thank you." the girl replied "I'm used to being bumped around."
Viktor took a closer look at the girl. She was certainly well built, with strong, thick limbs, rather like his mother. Her face wasn't the prettiest he'd seen, but it held a certain charm, a gleaming intelligence in her eyes, and her cheeks were rosy.
"Are you alright?" the girl asked him, having noticed his scrutiny.
"I am fine, thank you." Viktor replied "Vat is your name? I have not a good memory vith names."
"Millicent Bulstrode." the girl said "And you are Viktor Krum."
"I am guessing you are Quidditch fan." Viktor sighed. Just when he thought she was a normal girl, who didn't like him for his fame.
"Actually, no." Mill-i-cent blushed "I just know because all the girls in my dorm talk about you all the time. I don't really watch it that much."
"Oh." Viktor said, greatly relieved "Mill-y-sent,"
"Millicent." she corrected.
"Sorry." Viktor felt his face burn "Vould you like to go to the ball vith me?"
"Me?" she gasped. Viktor shrugged.
"You are pretty like my mother, and you are not fan girl." he tried to explain.
"No one's ever said I'm pretty before." she whispered quietly.
"You are as pretty as my mother." Viktor said again. She looked up at him, as if to see whether or not he was telling the truth. Finally, she nodded.
"It would be my pleasure." she said, in a very dignified tone. Viktor felt very happy.
"Then I vill see you at the ball." Viktor said, bowing. Mill-i-cent smiled.
_o0O0o_
Crookshanks was getting very annoyed with the scrawny excuse for a cat, the one who pranced around the big stone learning den as if she owned the place.
Ever since the first test the humans had made him do, the one whom the humans called "Mrs. Norris" had been stalking him, appearing every time he turned a corner. She was obviously hoping to be his mate, but Crookshanks would have none of that! The sorry excuse for a feline didn't even have a proper cat name, Mrs. Norris indeed!
But he had other concerns as well. Mistress had told him about the human gathering at the time of snow, when they dressed in fancy pelts, and walked fancily around with their mates. Mistress said it was called a Yule Ball, and because he was competing in this contest, he had to go as well, with a mate.
Where was he going to find a mate? Going with Mistress was absolutely unacceptable, since not only was she not cat, but she was Mistress, and there had to be proper boundaries. Also, Mistress' friend, the one with messy black fur on his head, and round shiny things on his eyes, the one who was also in this contest, had asked Mistress, and Mistress had said yes.
It was too late to send a message to his clan, since it would take many days for it to arrive, and even more days for a cat to arrive. He needed someone to go with, so he wouldn't shame his clan by showing up alone at this human yuleball thing.
Time was running out. He was seriously considering asking the scrawny dust coloured Mrs. Norris now. He was the only cat in the castle, apart from her. All the other humans who went to the stone learning den brought owls, since they thought they were more useful than cats. As if!
His keen ears picked up the unmistakable meow of Mrs. Norris, and he quickly fled. Just remembering her bulging eyes, dusty fur, and irritating meow instantly shooed away all thoughts of asking her. He heard pawsteps behind him: she was chasing him, acting like a kitten again. Crookshanks ran up to the owl den, hoping the smell would discourage her. It didn't.
"Meeow!" Mrs. Norris meowed happily "Meeow!"
"Mrow!" Crookshanks cursed, and backed into a corner, hoping she wouldn't see him. Unfortunately, years of hunting humans in the stone learning den had given her keen senses, and she stalked towards him playfully. Crookshanks closed his eyes, and whimpered, as she got closer.
"Screech!" The screech vibrated through the round walls of the owl den, and Crookshanks heard Mrs. Norris spitting furiously. He opened his eyes to see the white owl of the human who had asked Mistress leading a bunch of owls against Mrs. Norris. Mrs. Norris tried to bat them away, but when they were close enough that she could see their sharp talons, she fled, wailing.
The owls screeched and hooted, congratulating themselves. From what Crookshanks could decipher, for the owls were using the most basic form of the language of animals, they were proud that they had driven away the nosy cat that the young humans didn't like. Crookshanks gave the cat equivalent of a smirk.
"Hoot!" said the white owl who had led the charge. She was perched beside him, a very smug look on her face "Hoot hoot screech hoot hoot!"
"Meow?" Crookshanks asked.
"Hoot hoot screech hoot. Screech hoot screech screech hoot!"
Crookshanks thought over it. Yes, she was an owl, and not a cat, but she had saved him, and he did owe her. At any rate, anyone was better than Mrs. Norris.
"Meow." Crookshanks agreed.
"Hoot!" the white owl, Hedwig, she said she was, hooted happily, and flew off. Crookshanks was happy now. He had someone to go to the human yuleball thing with. It was funny, that her Master was going to the human yuleball with his Mistress, and he was going with her. He didn't know why, but it just seemed to fit.
_o0O0o_
The Yule Ball was the event of the year.
The Quidditch World Cup had been great, yes, but for many members of the magical community, witches especially, it lacked the elegance and class of a social event. Besides, as some of the more snobbier families sniffed, anyone could attend the World Cup, even commoners. This, the Yule Ball, the shining jewel of the Triwizard Tournament, even, as some said, more important than the tasks themselves. And for the first time, it was open to those outside the three schools, on the insistence of the French and Bulgarian ministries, who felt that if Hogwarts was going to have more champions than them, they would outshine their rival by showing the cream of their society.
To the students of Hogwarts, and indeed, many of the people attending, it was an excuse to go all out in spending and primping. Stores were mobbed by furious crowds of students and grown ups alike, most of them witches, though there were quite a few wizards as well. The Hogsmeade trip before the ball completely emptied the stores within a few hours, and many found themselves frantically fighting over a single robe, or piece of jewelry.
Of course, this was just the British. The French and Bulgarians, after hearing about all the fuss created by this tournament, were determined to outshine their foreign counterparts, at least in finery, if not in champions. Thus, the Yule Ball, meant to be an occasion simply for the students, professors, and a few Ministry officials, turned into the social event of the year.
Rumours helped spread the mad dash to get an invitation. Some hopeful students, and more than a few wizards, were highly looking forward to the supposed Firewhiskey fountain. A few giggly witches told everyone they knew that Gilderoy Lockhart had made a miraculous recovery, and was going to be attending, and St. Mungo's found themselves treating many wizards across the country for loss of hearing. The rumours ranged from utterly ridiculous (There'll be tap dancing pigs, really! Right, George?) to fairly accurate (The Holyhead Harpies will all be going, since their captain is one of those extra Headmistresses). All in all, Hogwarts was in for a very exciting evening.
At five o clock the day of the Yule Ball, every single girl made a mass exodus back to their dorms, or in the cases of the women, into their bedrooms. Some of the older and wiser men knew what was going on, and did not try to stop their wives. But apart from the knowledgeable few, most males were scratching their heads, wondering why they needed three hours to prepare for some ball.
At seven o clock, most of the boys went to get ready. All around Hogwarts, there was a general sudden self consciousness, and many boys rushed to the mirrors, not wanting to leave their dates wanting. Up in Gryffindor Tower, in the fourth year boy's dorms, Harry Potter nervously tried to flatten his hair, Ron Weasley went wild with Cutting Charms on his dress robes, and Neville Longbottom caused a great mess when he got his head stuck in his robes, and flailed about the place. Down in the Slytherin dungeons, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott, and Blaise Zabini resorted to pounding on the bathroom doors, trying to get in, and Draco Malfoy promptly ignored them as he slathered even more hair gel onto his head.
Students began trickling out of their common rooms and collecting their dates on their way to the Great Hall. In the bright sea of colours, this was no easy task. Crookshanks was almost trampled by a crowd of eager students, and was narrowly rescued by Hedwig, who swooped in, narrowly missing several heads, and convincing the students to walk elsewhere.
The doors opened at eight o clock, and the students poured into the Great Hall, which was already half full, filled with the most famous, the richest, and the most influential people in all Britain, France, and Bulgaria, not to mention the families of all the champions, who had received free invitations.
When everyone who wasn't a champion or their date was seated, the doors to the Great Hall were opened again, and in came the champions. First in line was Fleur Delacour, in shimmering silver robes, with her date, Roger Davies of Ravenclaw. Most of the males in the Hall were drooling excessively as she walked by, causing their dates to become quite irritated. The Beauxbaton students clapped politely for their champion. Next was Viktor Krum, in dark purple robes, and on his arm, a beaming Millicent Bulstrode, looking rather nice in robes of deep green. It was the turn of the females in the Hall to stare longingly after Krum, and their dates' turn to look annoyed. The Durmstrang students were on their feet, cheering for their champion, and the Slytherins clapped loudly, and much to everyone's shock, one of them actually wolf-whistled.
Cedric Diggory and his date, Cho Chang, were next, eliciting great applause from the Hufflepuffs attending. When Harry Potter entered, Hermione Granger on his arm, there was one moment of stunned silence, before half the Hall erupted into cheers (prompted by the Gryffindors) and the other half broke into whispers and jealous stares. In the crowd, Ron Weasley was slowly turning red, much to the dismay of the date he had managed to wrangle at the last moment, Romilda Vane.
When George Weasley entered, accompanied by Angelina Johnson, the Gryffindors in the Hall again burst into cheers, which was mingled with laughter, when they saw Alicia Spinnet come in with Fred Weasley. Luna Lovegood's entrance with Neville Longbottom had more laughs and sneers than anyone else's, but Luna just smiled cheerfully, grabbed a very embarrassed Neville's arm, and proceeded to skip the rest of the way to the table reserved for the champions.
The last pair to enter took everyone by surprise, no less Hermione and Harry. Crookshanks entered, dressed in a little tuxedo which Hermione had specially order from a pet shop, with Hedwig gliding very close to the ground beside him, a small crown of mistletoe adorning her head. Where she had gotten the mistletoe, no one knew.
When everyone was at last seated, the British Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, stood up to say "a few words", and proceeded to spend the next five minutes speaking eloquently on the uniqueness of this tournament, the everlasting bonds it formed, and the experience everyone would always remember. The other ministers, determined not to let Fudge get all the attention, both stood up after Fudge was finished, and gave even longer speeches, in very thick accents. Then a few of the 'very important contributors' gave their speeches, and by this time, most of the people there had tuned out. When Headmaster Karkaroff stood up, and prepared to give a biting speech, a voice which sounded suspiciously like Ron Weasley's shouted "Get on with it!"
Karkaroff purpled, but the point had been made. Dumbledore stood up, discreetly hiding the parchment with which he had been playing tic tac toe against himself, and bade everyone "Tuck in!". After a few moments of confusion, in which no one knew how exactly to get at the nonexistent food, Dumbledore clarified, and declared "Pork chops!", and lo and behold, pork chops appeared on his plate. There was no problem after this.
Over at the champion's table, for there were too many of them for all to be seated at the Head table, a rather rebellious conversation was going on. Everyone was in agreement that this tournament was a flop, or, at least, the organizers were. Krum and Fleur both felt that it was completely unfair, both the fact that so many extra people had gotten in, and the scoring. Krum was quick to make it known that he did not like his own Headmaster so obviously favouring him. Cedric, being a Hufflepuff by nature, was a little less vehement than his fellow competitors, but agreed that it could have been done better. Alicia declared her thoughts on the cruelty of using dragons for the first task, something which none of the other champions really agreed on except for Luna, but which Hermione eagerly latched onto, which led to a discussion on the treatment of magical creatures.
George, Millicent, and Crookshanks were all in agreement that the first task was way too easy. Harry made it known that he really didn't want to be in this tournament, and he would gladly forfeit, if he could. With everyone rather disappointed with the tournament, upset with the scoring, and in agreement that it really could have gone better, a new friendship was formed between all the champions. George pointed out that the point of the tournament was to promote "international magical cooperation", and suggested an idea, which everyone quickly agreed on. If they were going to be made a spectacle, the crowd would get a spectacle.
Cedric and Fleur had been the only ones to figure out the clue in the golden egg, though Krum said he thought he might have the answer, and Crookshanks nodded after he said that, leaving everyone wondering just how smart this cat was. Cedric offered to share a clue about how to solve the egg, but right then, Harry caught one of the Bulgarian ministry officials staring suspiciously at them, and they all quickly arranged to meet the next day. Having nothing else to talk about, Krum brought up Quidditch, as a last resort, something Harry, George, and Cedric quickly seized upon. They began a spirited conversation on their favourite teams, and Cho, Alicia and Angelina joined in. Fleur took one look at Roger Davies, who had just been staring at her the entire time, not even eating, and quietly put a Sleeping Charm on him in disgust. Not knowing who to talk to, she was pleasantly surprised, when Hermione started talking to her in fluent French, and the two started jabbering in rapid French about their favourite places. Luna was telling Millicent about how she thought most of the Slytherin table must be infested with Nargles, and how Millicent was welcome to join her at the Ravenclaw table to get away from them, almost bringing Millicent to tears, since very few people had ever been nice to her. Neville watched them all rather uncomfortably, feeling out of place, when Luna suddenly grabbed his robes, and pulled him in for a long kiss. When they broke apart, a very flustered and red Neville asked why, and Luna simply pointed up. Flying over them was Hedwig, a sprig of mistletoe in her beak.
The happy mood at the champion's table was by no means reflected at the Head table. Down at one end, the ministry officials from the three represented countries pretended to be nice to each other, while subtly insulting their neighbor. At the other end, Karkaroff made very loud, insulting remarks about the extra champions, while Dumbledore tried in vain to turn the conversation elsewhere. Professor Snape talked to no one, and looked at no one, though he did shoot Karkaroff a scathing look when the other man was looking away. Gwenog Jones and Lightningclaw took turns glaring at Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime flat out turned her back to him altogether, and was talking to a very happy looking Hagrid. By far the most cheerful spot at the table was where Professor Flitwick was happily talking magical theory with Remus Lupin, and recounting Hogwarts days.
It was well past nine when everyone was finished eating. With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore swept the tables back, and the Weird Sisters trooped onstage to play the opening song. Most of the champions took their places quickly, and began to dance elegantly, most of them having been trained by their parents. Harry looked lost for a moment, before Hermione grabbed his hands, put one around her waist, grabbed the other, and started revolving on the spot with him, though she was the one steering. It was rather nice, and he decided this dancing business really wasn't too bad. As the song went on, more people joined the champions on the dance floor, and soon, it was rather crowded.
Halfway through the third song, several couples left the dance floor, giggling madly. Among them were Luna and Neville, Luna looking quite satisfied, and Neville with a disbelieving look on his face. The next song, people started ask others to the dance floor. Fleur, who had dumped Roger Davies as soon as she could after the first dance, was very pleased when a handsome, muscled boy from Durmstrang asked her dance. Romilda Vane had long ago deserted her date, and was prowling the Hall, looking for boys without a date. Finding none, she declared the ball a bust, and left the Hall in a huff, shortly followed by her former date, Ron Weasley, who was looking very sulky, and couldn't bear watching his two best friends dancing away.
"Attention folks!" declared the lead singer of the Weird Sisters after the fifth song "Thank you all for being such a great audience! We're now taking song requests, and the first request was our number one hit, 'Amortentia', so find the one you think is the one, and dance!"
At this, most of the boys made hurried excuses, and practically ran from the dance floor. The people who had come alone looked uncomfortably at each other, and sat further back in their seats. But the married couples and the older students stayed on the dance floor, dancing happily. When the song ended, the girls dragged their dates back on the dance floor, and all was well again.
_o0O0o_
Rita Skeeter was looking for a scoop.
She had not been one of the lucky few to get an invitation to the ball, nor had she been able to purchase any tickets. As such, she was forced to rely on her Animagus form (a dung bettle) to sneak in. It was all Dumbledore's fault. After her article about the tournament, in which she may have overdone it a bit too much on Harry Potter, she had been banned from the grounds.
There were so many stories she could do, but none of them had the smell of a headline. There would already be a fashion article, written by that stupid cow, Betsy Bogweed, but there were other things she could write about. The conversation she had overheard with the champions quite clearly voicing their disappointment with the tournament. The outrageous behavior of the Durmstrang Headmaster, though she was treading on thin ice with that one. The controversial request of the lead singer of the Weird Sisters, who asked everyone to dance with the person they thought was the one. But none of those, save possibly the champions' conversation, was headline news. She was now perched, have freezing, on a statue in the garden, hoping to hear some news, of any kind.
There! The Hogwarts gameskeeper, that Hagrid, was talking to the French Headmistress, Maxime. Rita strained her antennae, and was delighted with what she heard. Hagrid was a half giant! Now that was headline material. She could just see it, emblazoned on the front page of the Daily Prophet: Dumbledore's Giant Mistake.
"Screech!"
Rita looked up to see a giant white form descending on her, and if she could have, she would have screamed in terror.
"Mreow!"
Rita looked beneath her and saw a spitting, orange cat, mouth open, showing great huge teeth. It was too much for Rita. She fainted.
_o0O0o_
Hedwig barked delightedly. She had been on a lovely flight, soaring over Crookshanks, having a pleasant conversation, when he had alerted her to a human-turn- -animal. She had remembered her friend/master Harry complaining about a human-turn -animal last year. Maybe this was the one! She had swooped down on the human-turn-animal, which was a tasty beetle, while Crookshanks covered the base of the white stone it was on. The human-turn-animal had gone into scared-sleep when it saw them.
Now, what to do with it?
Thanks for reading!