Chapter 14: Got Some News Tonight?

"Attention, please!" said McGonagall, and everyone stopped their chatter and turned around to face her, " I would like to say a few words, and I have some news to you."

Harry looked around him and saw all the first- year Gryffindors sitting among him, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville and they had been looking to them in awe, specially to Harry, but the moment McGonagall spoke they turned to face the teachers table.

"First of all, I'd like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Head of Gryffindor house," everyone looked to the table were two new teachers sat wondering which of them was the new DADA teacher, "Professor Hestia Jones!" there was a round of gentle applause and Harry suddenly remembered the Dursley´s, he hadn't heard from them in more than a year, he would have to remember to ask Hestia about them.

"I also want to announce that since I won't be giving the Transfiguration class anymore, the new provisional teacher is Professor Lee Jordan!"

A loud boisterous applause came from the Gryffindor table as Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry looked confused and Ron kept on repeating `He could have told us! I can't imagine him as a professor´. Lee stood up and took a bow, as he raised his hands jokingly in a victory sign.

"Well, yes, thank you Lee, you may sit down," said McGonagall as she tried to suppress a laugh, "Now, on other things, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that magic is prohibited in the corridors and that the Forrest is off limits for everyone; except the Aurors, who will be allowed JUST IN CASE of having a lecture there." Ron, Harry and Hermione smiled at this. In the six years they had been in the school, they had entered the Forrest once or twice a year, more or less.

"Also, the list of prohibited objects is in each common room's bulletin board, as well as the list of weekends that you will be able to spend in Hogsmeade, for students of third grade and older that have the required permission form." People were getting ready for the banquet to start, Ron being so eager he had the fork and the knife in his hands and was starring at the still empty dishes, while Hermione cracked up laughing at the sigh of that, but McGonagall cleared her throat, Ron looked up from the dish he was staring at and saw McGonagall looking at him, so he turned to face her and let the fork and knife down slowly, like he didn't want anyone to notice, Hermione and Ginny giggled and Harry had to suppress a horselaugh. McGonagall waited for the Great Hall to be in complete silence again and continued speaking.

"I have some interesting news for the older students;" she said this with a serious face, but her voice seemed excited, "this year, the Comission for the International Magic Cooperation has decided to invite Durmstrang and Beauxbatons to a Yule Ball that will be held on Hogwarts!" Everyone started talking at once, " The students from 4th grade to Auror course, will be having the chance to attend this ball, all additional information will be posted in the Common Rooms bulletin board, now that I have said all...Let the banquet begin!" the chatter grew even louder and people started to grab food from the plates in front of them that were suddenly filled with food, but Ron turned quickly to Harry when Hermione had turned to talk to Ginny.

"Mate, I need you to hold Hermione here!", he sounded anxious and was already standing up, "Can I borrow your Invisibility Cloak?"

"Well, yes, take it," Harry handed it to him, " but, you will not stay for the banquet?"

"I can´t Harry," he turned to see Hermione who was still talking to Ginny and looked pleadingly at Harry. "I promise I will explain, just, don´t let Hermione go to the Common Room until, well, all the time you can hold her the better." He then put on the Invisibility Cloak and walked away.

The banquet was delicious, and by the time they were finished everyone was full to their stomachs, Hermione had asked Harry for Ron many times, but Harry answered many times that Ron had gone to sleep, because he wasn´t feeling that well, and Hermione, had then suggested many many times that she should go see if he was alright, to which Harry responded every time that Ron had told him to tell her not to leave the banquet just for his headache. The last time Hermione asked, Harry just told her that Ron had told him that he was fine, but needed to rest because he was starting to get a headache, and that he wanted to have the dorms quiet for a while.

Hermione still was not believing him though, she knew that Ron had been very anxious for the banquet, he was hungry and loved Hogwarts food, but just when he McGonagall had revealed the Yule Ball to the school he disappeared, without eating a crumb.

"Hermione, just relax!" said Ginny when she´d had enough of that conversation, "My brother is not that important" Harry laughed and Hermione looked helpless and pouted at them.

McGonagall stood up again, and the Great Hall became quiet again. "I hope you all enjoyed the banquet, and now, off to bed! Prefects, show the first years to the common rooms if you please…"

Everyone started to make their way out of the Great Hall, but Harry pulled Ginny and Hermione towards the other way, to the teachers' table.

"Harry, what are you doing!" asked Hermione an angry tone in her voice, "We have to go to the Common Room and Ron is sick!"

"Don't you want to greet Hagrid?" asked Harry.

"Fine. But we'll make it quick"

As they reached the teachers table they went up to Hagrid and he gave all three of them a big hug, when he let go he laughed and looked at them. They joined the laugh and Hermione who was getting extremely anxious about Ron's state took the word.

"Hagrid! It's great seeing you!" she said, and before Hagrid could answer, she continued, "I am afraid we have to leave you right now, Ron is feeling a little unwell, but can we meet you tomorrow for tea?"

"Hum… yes 'ermione!" he looked worried, " Do you want me to get Madame Pomfrey for Ron?"

Just as Hermione was going to answer 'Yes, please' Harry cut out and said:

"No, I don't think so, he said he was just tired"

Hermione gave him a cold look and made her way out of the Great Hall followed by a worried Harry and a giggling Ginny.

Sooo... I updated! yaay! Thank you all for reading this story, and not giving it up. Thank you for your reviews and suggestions; I try to take all on account and to reply to your reviews. If I didn't I am very sorry. AGAIN please if you see I have something from the translation wrong just tell me (except for the camera/vault thing. I got it with that; I can't change it in that chapter but if i ever use that word again in the story I'll make sure it is as vault) remember I am NOT a native speaker, but reading my first couple of chapters, well, I can say in my not-so-humble opinion (hehe) that I have improved.

In other topics... I WENT TO THE MIDNIGHT SCREENING OH DHpt2! WOHOOO! I WATCHED TWICE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A WEEK :) I loved it and I didn't cry. I BAWLED. like ALL the TIME. but when I lost it was when McG starts doing the spell for the armors... woow I lost it.

I repeat what I told you last time. If I don't update before August the 5th again I'll probably won't be updating until... weeelll... say september 20 or something... I know... long time... but it's because I'm going to WYD /World Youth Day in Madrid and I cant be writing... I mean... that's a far way from home and I'm not taking my computer with me... I'll try to make some drafts and that sort of stuff... but no updates. Aaaand I start as the equivalent of a Sophomore of my country I think... I don't really know... and it's gonna be hard. In my country that is like the transition from Junior High to High School... it's weird... well... whatever... the thing is I have to put an extra effort if I want an excellency scholarship for the college I want... that's a 90% scholarship and I really need it :)

Follow me on twitter: martha_bsfc. i know its a different name but... one could be my middle name or my pseudonim... you never know :)

Well I hope you like this chapter. Don't forget to review. Oh! and stay tuned! Next chapter might be fluffy )

Live, Laugh, Love

Alice!* :)