- CHAPTER 9: Trapped -
"May I have your attention please…" a voiced echoed throughout the Great Hall.
Harry Potter and his two best friends looked up at the Hogwart's Headmaster from their breakfasts.
Professor Dumbledore was standing at the high table as he spoke to all of the students. "Due to some unfortunate circumstances, Minister Cornelius Fudge has been asked to step out from the highest position at the Ministry of Magic. And just yesterday, the Magical Community announced the new Minister of Magic. His name is Jonathon Bordeaux."
There was a great applause from everyone present in the Great Hall.
"Who's he?" Harry wondered.
Ron had the answer. "Bordeaux was the head of the International Magical Cooperation Department. Dad knew him pretty well."
"Really?" Hermione was surprised. "Is he capable…?"
"Very…" Ron responded. "Dad used to praise him a lot over the years. Said he was a fine chap and an incredibly proficient person."
"That's good!" Harry felt pleased. "Cornelius Fudge was all trash. He never did anything good for the Magical Community, ever."
Professor Dumbledore continued. "We, the people of Hogwarts, have taken the pleasure to honour Minister Bordeaux. There will a ball in about a week's time where we will invite the new Minister and some others members. There will be dancing, great food a whole lot of fun." He stopped only for a minute. "Therefore, I would like everybody to choose their dance partners and that includes the teachers."
There was a wave of giggles and laughter all the way through the Great Hall.
"I'm sorry to say, but all students under fourth year won't be able to attend the ball because it passes their bedtime. That will be all, thank you…" With that, Professor Dumbledore sat down.
Ron's eyes shifted towards Hermione as he asked very awkwardly. "So… who are you going to go with?"
"I don't know, Ron." Hermione replied coolly. "Nobody has asked me yet."
Ron cleared his throat, and was about to say something but abruptly decided to stop. Then he turned his attention to Harry. "Who do you plan to ask… Harry?"
He didn't have an answer. Now that Ginny Weasley was dead, Harry considered that he never could enjoy something like this again.
"Well…" Ron was waiting.
"I'm not sure." Harry complained irritably as he stood up. "And I'm not even sure that I want to go to this stupid ball."
Leaving, Hermione and Ron quite taken aback, Harry made his way towards the exit. He just wanted to go back to his dormitory and well… just die.
How could he betray Ginny? If he went out with someone else, he would be insulting her memory, and that was the only thing left of her. He still loved Ginny Weasley as if she was alive and breathing. Moreover, it was going to stay that way forever.
So caught up in his thoughts, Harry wasn't watching where he was going and bumped right into someone. It was Professor McGonagall.
"Do watch where you're going, Potter!" she exclaimed, smoothing out her dress.
"Sorry Professor." He mumbled.
Professor McGonagall looked him. "Why the long face?"
"Nothing… I'm not feeling too good…"
"I see…" the Professor breathed. "Have you decided whom to ask for the ball?"
Why was everybody so nosy? "No, I haven't. And I'm thinking of not attending it…"
Professor McGonagall seemed to comprehend his reluctance. "Cheer up, Potter. Of course, you will attend the ball as it is an occasion for joy and happiness. You have a whole week to think it through…" And then she hurried away.
Why was Professor McGonagall so enthusiastic about the ball? Harry wondered as he reached Gryffindor Tower and entered the common room. Nevertheless, he didn't want to go to some ridiculous ball party, because he didn't want to ask anyone. Because he didn't want anyone else. And because he loved only Ginny…
It was afternoon of the day of the ball, and Harry was as calm as ever. He really wasn't planning on going… and nobody would really notice, maybe except for Ron and Hermione. But Harry would explain to them and they would understand.
Ron had finally managed to ask Hermione out to the ball. He had been pestering Harry the whole week that he was nervous and all and Hermione would never agree. Harry had gone so angry near the end that he had dragged Ron by the arm and almost had shoved him into Hermione.
"Ron here wants to ask you something…" Harry had told her.
But Ron had been hesitant. "Hermione… would you… please… I mean… would you like to… that is… would you like to check my Potions homework?"
Then Harry had smacked him in the arm. "Ron! That's not the question! Damn it, just ask her!"
"Hermione… want to go to the ball with me…?" Ron had asked frantically. "Not that it means…"
"Alright, Ron." Hermione had answered calmly.
"For real…?" Ron had been gaping. "That's great…" And he had disappeared off immediately, with a dream-like smile plastered on face.
Of course, Harry hadn't asked anyone. He wasn't interested in anyone and no girl at Hogwarts seemed to be fond of him. It was a win-win situation for Harry.
He was going to Professor McGonagall's office and wanted to ask her if he could take the Transfiguration quiz again (He had done extremely bad on the last one!). He reached outside her office and the door was slightly ajar. Harry was just going to enter when he heard. "No, Professor McGonagall! You can't make me!"
He peered inside the office and saw Professor McGonagall sitting inside with Shauna Swirl. They seemed to be arguing, or rather it was Shauna who was doing the most of it.
"Please… Professor, this is my trademark. This is who I am!" Shauna debated.
"I disagree, Miss Swirl!" Professor McGonagall seemed aghast. "Dressing like a punk with all that horrible colored hair and make-up… its preposterous! I will definitely not allow you to show up anything like this at the ball!"
"But why…?" Shauna demanded.
"I don't want the new Minister to think disapprovingly about Gryffindor!" Professor McGonagall explained.
"Who cares?"
"I do, Miss Swirl!" Professor McGonagall pointed out. "And since I am the head of the Gryffindor house… it makes a big difference. And I definitely don't want Johnny to think…" She suddenly stopped.
"Johnny…? You mean Jonathon Bordeaux?" Shauna was almost in giggles. "Was he your old sweetheart or something…?"
Professor McGonagall turned beet red in the face. "Of course, not. I…"
"You can't fool me, Professor!" exclaimed Shauna, still in hysterics. "I think he was! And that's why you want to impress him so much…"
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth to say something but then she stopped and appeared extremely confused. "Still, Miss Swirl… Whatever my reason maybe, I will not allow you to grace with your presence at the ball looking like a cheap, little… tramp!"
Shauna's smile faded from her face. "Then how am I supposed to go as…?"
"Like a normal girl!" the Professor exclaimed. "In fact, you come straight to my office before you go to the dance. I will personally cater to your looks…"
Shauna threw her hands in the air. "Then I won't go!"
"Of course you will, Miss Swirl!"
"No…" insisted Shauna. "Because nobody has asked me to go with them. Now I can't be there without a dance partner… can I? I mean… what will Johnny say?"
"Miss Swirl!" ordered Professor McGonagall. "That's enough! And I will find you a partner. I believe Neville Longbottom hasn't asked anyone yet…"
"Longbottom…?!" Shauna was horrified. "Not him… forget it!"
Harry strained closer to listen better when suddenly he stepped on his robes and tripped, which sent him almost flying halfway through the office.
"What was that…" Professor McGonagall looked across the room. "Ah… Potter, just the person I wanted to see…"
Harry picked up his glasses that had fallen off when he had tripped, and then he slowly got up. "Why do want to see me?"
"Potter… who are you going to the ball with?" Professor McGonagall demanded quickly.
"No one. In fact, I was planning not to go at all…"
"Then it's settled!" Professor McGonagall seemed extremely pleased with herself. "I have found your partner Miss Swirl… Harry Potter!"
"Me…?" Harry was shocked. "No way Professor! She's not going with me!"
Shauna banged her fist on the table. "I'd rather go with Longbottom!"
"No! I have made my decision!" Professor McGonagall was firm. "And I'm warning… if anyone of you does anything to jeopardize the dance, then I'll will personally make sure that both of you get on the Hogwarts Express back to London first thing in the morning!"
"But Professor…" Shauna started.
"You're both dismissed!" roared Professor McGonagall. "Now leave my office!"
Harry scrunched his teeth angrily as he walked out from the office, followed by Shauna. He then grabbed her arm. "This is your entire fault!"
"What…?" Shauna demanded. "You're the one who was eavesdropping and came crashing in the office! And if you hadn't done just that, McGonagall would have never picked you as my partner!"
Harry instantly let go of her arm. "This is not happening! Not only I have to attend the ball, I have to go with a bitch!"
"How dare you call me one?" Shauna exclaimed, irritated. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd be asking for a re-match."
"You know what…" snapped Harry. "I tried to kill you once… I can easily do it again." He wasn't serious at all, just very cross and was only trying his best to scare her out of her wits.
Shauna narrowed her eyes and spoke firmly. "Your threats don't frighten me, Poopy Potter."
"Don't ever call me that… again!" Harry warned.
"And if I do…"
Harry grabbed her arm once and pulled her closer to him. "You can't even imagine what I'll do to you…"
"Let go of my arm, Potter!" Shauna ordered.
Harry did just that and then immediately left.
(A/N: Thanks to everybody for the REVIEWS. Please keep submitting more and more… I hope you think this fanfic is getting interesting… Next stop… THE BALL!)
