Hailey had done the load of homework, so she can enjoy the holidays without worrying about it.
Snow was falling, making the pale blue Beauxbatons carriage look like a large pumpkin, right next to Hagrid's cabin that looked like an iced gingerbread house. The Durmstrang ship's portholes were iced over and the rigging was white with frost.
To house-elves were making a series of rich, warming stews and savory pudding, outdoing themselves. The only one to complain was Fleur, who complained to her friends, "It is too 'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food. I will not fit into my dress robes!"
"Ooh, there's a tragedy," Hermione snapped as Fleur went out into the entrance. "She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?"
"Hermione—who are you going to the ball with?" asked Ron. He kept springing the question on Hermione, when she least expected, hoping to startle an answer out of her. However, Hermione said, "I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me."
Michael knew, because he was in the library with Hermione when he got cornered by Aileen, who annoyed him into submission when Hermione's mysterious partner asked her.
"You're joking, Weasley!" sneered Malfoy from behind them. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"
Ron, Michael, and Hailey turned around, as Hermione called out, "Hello, Professor Moody!" She was waving at someone behind Malfoy's shoulder.
It looked like Mandy was going to respond. Malfoy paled and jumped back, looking wildly around for Moody, but the professor was still up at the staff table, eating his stew.
"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" Hermione said scathingly.
With that, they went up the marble staircase, laughing.
"Hermione," said Ron, looking sideways at her, suddenly frowning, "your teeth…"
"What about them?" Hermione asked.
"Well, they're different…I've just noticed…" Ron responded.
"Of course they are—did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy gave me?" Hermione asked.
"No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you…They're all…straight and—and normal-sized."
Hermione smiled in a mischievous manner. It did look different. She explained, "Well…when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror and told me to stop her when they were back to how they normally were. And I just…let her carry on a bit." She smiled more widely, "Mum and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my braces. You know, they're dentists, they just don't think teeth and magic should—look! Pigwigdgeon's back!"
The tiny owl was twittering madly on the top of the icicle-laden banisters, a scroll of parchment tied to his leg. Students passing by pointed and laughed, while a group of third-year girls paused and said, "Oh look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?"
"Stupid little feathery git!" Ron hurried up the stairs and grabbed Pigwidgeon. "You bring letter to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!" Pig's head protruded from Ron's hand, hooted happily. The third-year girls looked shocked. "Clear off!" Ron waved the fist that was holding Pig at them. Pig seemed to enjoy being waved in the air because he was hooting merrily.
Ron removed Sirius's reply and whispered to Hailey, "Here—take it, Hailey." The third-year girls hurried away, looking scandalized. Hailey pocketed the letter and they hurried off into an empty classroom.
They gathered around to read over the letter.
Dear Hailey,
Congratulations on getting past the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that goblet shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitus Curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point—
"That's what Krum did!" Hermione whispered.
Hailey continued reading.
—but your way was better, I'm impressed.
Don't get complacent, though, Hailey. You're only done one task; whoever put you in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open—particularly when the person we discussed is around-and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.
Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual.
Sirius
"He sounds exactly like Moody," Hailey stated as she pocketed the letter. "'Constant vigilance! You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls…"
"But he's right, Hailey," said Hermione, "you have still got two tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and start working out what it means…"
"Hermione she's got ages!" snapped Ron.
"Yeah, but who knows how long it will take to figure out what we're supposed to do with the damn thing," Michael pointed out.
On Christmas day, Hailey was awoken. She wondered what had caused the sudden return to consciousness, she opened her eyes to see large, round, green eyes started back at her. They were so close they were almost nose to nose.
"Dobby!" Hailey shouted, scrambling away from the elf so fast, she almost fell out of bed. "Don't do that!"
"Dobby is sorry, miss!" squeaked Dobby anxiously. He jumped back, his long fingers covering his mouth. "Dobby is only wanting to wish Hailey Potter 'Happy Christmas' and bring her a present, miss! Hailey Potter did say Dobby could come and see her sometimes, miss!"
"It's okay," Hailey replied, breathing heavily and faster than usual. "Just—just prod me or something in the future, all right, don't bend over me like that…"
Hailey pulled back the curtains to see that Mandy and Lisa Turpin were looking over at her curiously. Su Li and Padma were looking over too.
Lisa asked rather sleepily, "Someone attacking you again, Hailey?"
"No, it's just Dobby," Hailey said. "Go back to sleep."
"S—oh, look! Present!" Su Li said as she saw her presents.
Her dorm-mates decided that since they were up, they were going to open their presents.
Hailey turned back to Dobby, who was looking nervous, as if he was worried that he upset Hailey. Hailey noticed that there was a Christmas bauble tied to the loop of his tea cozy.
"Can Dobby give Hailey Potter her present?" he squeaked tentatively.
"'Course you can," replied Hailey. "Er…I've got something for you too."
Hailey hated herself for lying to Dobby, because she hadn't bought anything for the elf. She opened her trunk and looked through it. She found Uncle Vernon's foulest and oldest rolled-up pair of socks. They were mustard yellow and extra-knobbly because she was using them to store her Sneakoscope for over a year. She removed the Sneakoscope and handed the socks to Dobby. "Sorry, I forgot to wrap them…"
"Socks are Dobby's favourite clothes, miss!" Dobby said, looking utterly delighted. He ripped off his old socks and pulled on Uncle Vernon's socks. "I has seven now, miss…but miss…" he had pulled on the socks as far as they can go, which reached the bottom of his shorts. "They has made a mistake in the shop, Hailey Potter, they is giving you two the same!"
"Ah, come on, Hailey. How come you didn't catch that?" Su Li asked in a joking manner. She opened her trunk and pulled out what looked to be an old pair of socks. She passed the socks to Dobby, "Here you go, so you can mix them up, the right way."
Lisa took out a blue hand-knitted sweater, or it looked like it was to be a sweater, because it had multiple gaps in it. "Here, you can have my horrible sweater I tried to make. It might not keep you warm…but…"
Dobby took the sweaters and socks anyway. He looked overwhelmed. "Misses is very kind!" His eyes were brimming with tears again, and bowing deeply to Su Li and Lisa, "Dobby knew misses must be great witches for they know Hailey Potter. Dobby did not know that they were also as generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless—"
"Er…thanks," Su Li said. Su Li and Lisa both looked taken aback and uncomfortable with the praises.
"This is so pretty," Mandy said, holding up a blue scarf with bronze snowflakes. "Thanks Hailey."
Dobby handed Hailey a small package which turned out to be…socks.
"Dobby is make them himself, miss!" the elf exclaimed happily. "He is buying the wool out of his wages, miss!"
Hailey opened the package to see that the left sock was bright red and had a pattern of broomsticks. The right sock was green with a pattern of Snitches. They were horrid, ghastly, and actually heartwarming. "They're…they're really…well, thanks, Dobby." She pulled the socks on and Dobby's eyes welled with tears.
"Dobby must go now, miss, we is already making Christmas dinner in the kitchens!" Dobby said and ran out of the dormitory, waving bye to Mandy and the other girls.
"He seemed nice," Su Li said. "He should come around more often."
Hailey's other presents, minus a tissue that the Dursleys sent her, were much more satisfactory than Dobby's odd socks.
Hermione had given Hailey a book called Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland; Ron got her a bulging bag of Dungbombs; Sirius gave Hailey a hand penknife with attachments to unlock any lock and undo any knots; Hagrid had sent a vast box of sweets including all of Hailey's favourites: Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and Fizzing Whizbees. Eva had given her a lot of black, glittery looking, beaded bracelets. Mandy had gotten Hailey a light pink to dark pink, thin-strapped shirt. It looked brand new and it nearly brought Hailey to tears at having a new shirt to wear. Most of her clothes were from thrift stores and she got that once a year. The only clothes that she got new were undergarments. She set the shirt aside and looked through her presents. She was sure that it would look good with her hoodie that she 'forgot' to give back to Michael, who seemed to "forget" that it was his. Michael got her cauldron cakes and Mrs Weasley, sent Hailey, her usual package; homemade mince pies and a handmade knitted jumper, which was hazel with a dragon on it. Hailey figured that Charlie told Mrs Weasley about the Horntail.
Mandy and Hailey meet Michael, Ron, and Hermione down in the common room. Ron was wearing the Chudley Cannon hat, which Hailey bought him, which clashed horribly with his hair. They went down to breakfast together and afterwards and went up the Gryffindor common room. Ron talked Hailey into having a few rounds of wizarding chess. Mandy had talked Michael into playing a game of Exploding Snap, because her mum sent her a pack. When the morning turned to afternoon, they headed down to lunch together. Lunch included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, and large piles of Cribbage's Wizarding Crackers.
Michael had Hailey pull one end with him and he ended up getting a pack of Exploding Snap, white mice that would probably end up being Mrs Norris's Christmas dinner, and a purple top hat.
"Do you want the top?" Michael asked and Hailey took the top hat and put it on. Michael smiled at that, "Adorable."
It made Hailey blush.
After that, they went out onto the grounds. There were deep channels in the snow that was made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students, but the snow looked untouched.
Hailey, Mandy, and Michael got in a snowball with the Weasleys, but Hermione chose to watch it then join in. It was around five when Hermione and Mandy both decided that it was time to get ready for the ball.
Mandy looked back at Hailey, "Come on, Hailey. We have to get ready for the ball."
Ron looked incredulous at that, "You need three hours?" He got hit on the side of his head with a snowball that was thrown by George. Hermione, Mandy, and Hailey went up the stone steps into the castle. "Who're you going with?"
In the Ravenclaw dormitory, Mandy had painted Hailey's nails black, and after the nails were dried, Hailey had to take a shower. After that, Hailey hesitantly opened the box with the dress Mrs Weasley got her. She removed the dress and looked at it. It was to rock concert for a Christmas ball, but she put it on anyway. It did come to mid-thigh level. She adjusted the straps and picked up the white wristband with weird symbols. She put it on and on the other wrist; she put the black beaded bracelets that Eva gave her. She brushed her hair and then put the black high-top shoes on. She applied eyeliner and left the bathroom. Her eyes widened when she saw that Mandy was wearing what looked like a blue furry dress, light blue tights, and nearly knee-length light blue boots. She had curled her hair.
Mandy smiled when she saw Hailey, "Come on, let's go down to the common room."
"No, I refuse to go down there," Hailey said. She didn't want everyone to see her wearing a dress. She knew she was being weird about it, since they all saw her wearing a skirt, but that was because she looked like every other female out there.
"Don't worry, you're going to be fine," Mandy said.
Hailey nodded, she knew that she just had to get it over with. She'll show up, dance, maybe eat, and then leave. That's all she had to do. She took a deep breath and together the two girls left the dormitory. They met up with Michael, who was wearing all black and a suit jacket. Hailey couldn't help but think that he looked good.
"You look like you're going to a rock concert," Michael said, looking at Hailey. His eyes were wide as he stared at her. He looked at Mandy and stared, "You look…nice."
Terry Boot walked up and looked at Mandy. The five headed down to the entrance hall, meeting up with Ron. Terry gaped at the sight of Ron.
Ron looked like he was wearing a maroon velvet dress. It looked like he used a Severing Charm to remove the ruff and cuffs, because the edges looked frayed.
"These are ancient. I look like my great-aunt Tessie," Ron moaned and he sniffed his armpit. He added, "I smell like my great-aunt Tessie." He looked at Hailey, "murder me, Hailey."
Hailey giggled at that.
They ended up in the entrance hall where it looked like everyone was waiting for the doors to open. The people who asked their dates to the ball from a different House were trying to find each other.
"Oh, I think I see Aileen," Terry said, pointing.
"Oh, I think I see a nice suit of armour to hide behind," Michael said and ducked into the crowd. Terry and Mandy went in the crowd, leaving Hailey and Ron behind.
Malachi and Ciara found them. Ciara was wearing a pastel blue dress and she took one look at Ron's dress robes and got this, 'oh, god, what did I agree to?' look on her face. She blinked and smiled, "You certainly look…handsome." Ciara looked at Hailey, "You look pretty." She sounded sincere in her compliments.
Malachi looked at Hailey and Ron. Malachi scratched the back of his head as he looked at Ron, "Your dress robes look like…they match your hair." He looked at Hailey, "You look pretty."
A boy with a girl wearing a yellow dress walked by and Ciara grabbed Ron's arm quite rapidly. She narrowed her eyes at the boy who happened to look behind him. He seemed to do a double-take before he continued walking.
"Bloody prat," Ciara growled out. Hailey noticed how Ciara seemed to have two inches over Ron, because of her high-heels.
"Oh, no…" Ron said and seemed to hide behind Ciara right as Fleur passed by. Hailey had to admit that Fleur looked stunning in a dress of silver-grey satin. She was being accompanied by Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain.
"Bad luck with her?" Ciara asked Ron, who emerged from behind her.
Ron didn't respond, "Where is Hermione?"
Slytherins came up from the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front and wore black velvet dress robes with a high collar, that made him look like a vicar. Pansy wore a frilly pale pink dress and she held Malfoy's arm. Crabbe and Goyle wore green robes making them resemble moss-coloured boulders. Neither of them seemed to have found a date.
The oak front doors opened and Hailey turned to see that the Durmstrang entered with Professor Karkaroff. Krum was being accompanied by a girl wearing a light pink to dark pink dress. Hailey almost jerked when she saw that it was Hermione. Hailey noticed that an area of lawn right in front of the castle had hundreds of actual living fairies sitting in the rosebushes that had been conjured there. They were fluttering over statues of what seemed to be Father Christmas and his reindeer.
"Champions over here, please!" Professor McGonagall called over.
"See you in a minute," Hailey said to Ron.
"Have fun," Malachi said to Ciara and then to Hailey. They walked over to Professor McGonagall.
Hailey had to do a double-take because she saw Colton Taylor wearing what seemed to be a formal looking kilt standing with Stephan Cornfoot, who looked like he was dressed up to be at a rock concert.
McGonagall was wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a wreath of thistles around the brim of her hat. She told the champions, "Wait here, while everyone else goes inside. You're to enter in procession when the rest of the students had sat down."
Fleur and Roger were nearest the doors. Roger looked like he couldn't believe his fortune in having Fleur for a date that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Cedric and Cho were close to Hailey and Malachi. Malachi kept looking anywhere but the two even as Cho greeted him and Hailey. Hailey looked at Krum and Hermione.
Hermione had made her hair sleek and shiny. She had twisted her up into a elegant knot at the back of her head. She was smiling in a rather nervous manner, "Hi, Hailey! Hi—" She trailed off, as if she never got Malachi's name.
"Malachi," Hailey and Malachi stated at the same time.
Krum's fan club from the library walked past, throwing Hermione looks of deep loathing. Pansy gaped as she and Malfoy walked by. Malfoy couldn't even manage to throw an insult at Hermione or Hailey. Ron and Ciara walked right by Hermione. Ciara smiled at Malachi and said, "Have fun." Ron didn't even look at Hermione.
Once everyone was in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. Hailey took Malachi's arm as she stood behind Cho, who stood behind Hermione, who stood behind Fleur. Hailey noticed that Malachi was giving Cedric a disgruntled look and it dawned on Hailey that Malachi was jealous of Cedric.
They walked to the front of the round table at the top of the Hall as the students applauded when they walked past.
The walls were covered in sparkling silver frost that had hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy that were crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished and there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones. The tables seated about a dozen people.
Hailey didn't want to trip while Malachi seemed to smile at people he knew. Hailey looked at Ron and Ciara at the nearest top table, with Mandy, Terry, and Michael. Michael was looking disgruntled as a girl in a silvery dress, was holding his hand. The girl had long black hair and she wore round glasses. That must be Aileen, who annoyed Michael into taking her to the ball. Michael was now looking annoyed at Hailey and Malachi, while Ron was looking at Hermione with narrowed eyes.
Hailey briefly wondered what she would look like if she wore glasses and had black hair.
Dumbledore smiled happily as they approached the top table. Karkaroff had his eyes narrowed too, as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars was clapping as enthusiastically as the other students. Madame Maxime wore a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. Mr Crouch wasn't there, but the fifth seat was being occupied by Percy Weasley. He seemed a little surprised to see Hailey holding Malachi's arm. Percy looked around and seemed to find what he was looking for. He looked back at Hailey and drew the empty chair that was beside him. He looked at Hailey in a pointed manner. Hailey took the hint and sat down next to Percy. Hailey noticed that Percy was wearing brand-new, navy blue robes and his expression changed to smugness.
"I've been promoted," Percy said before Hailey could even ask how he was doing. He sounded like he was announcing that he was joining the election to be supreme ruler of the universe. "I'm not Mr Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."
"Why? Is he ill?" Malachi asked, sounding confused.
Hailey was thankful for that, because she didn't want to hear a lecture about cauldron bottoms through dinner.
"Hasn't been right since the World Cup," Percy explained. "Hardly surprising—overwork. He's not as young as he was—though still quite brilliant, of course, the mind remains as great as it ever was. But the World Cup was a fiasco for the whole Ministry, and then, Mr Crouch suffered a huge personal shock with the misbehaviour of that house-elf of his, Blinky, or whatever she was called." Malachi and Hailey exchanged looks. Percy continued, "Naturally, he dismissed her immediately afterward, but—well, as I say, he's getting on, he needs looking after, and I think he's found a definite drop in his home comforts since she left. And we had the tournament to arrange, and the aftermath of the Cup to deal with—that revolting Skeeter woman buzzing around—no, poor man, he's having a well-earned, quiet Christmas. I'm just glad he knew he had someone he could rely upon to take his place."
Hailey resisted the urge to ask Percy if Crouch had stopped calling him 'Weatherby'.
"My mum really loathes that Skeeter woman," Malachi said and chuckled, "The things she says when new articles appear in the Daily Prophet. She hates her a lot because of what Skeeter was trying to do. Kept bothering my mum about why my dad moved to the Himalayas. My mum refused to give more information and Skeeter was trying to spin it to where my dad ran out on his wife and child. She only investigated it because my dad stopped writing books when I was a one year old, so rumours spread. My mum told Skeeter that he went to the Himalayas and that was all. So Skeeter had to take everything out of hand and try to smear my dad's name, so everyone thinks that he ran away to the Himalayas instead of him voluntarily moving there."
Hailey looked down to see that her golden plate was still empty and that there was a little menu beside it. She picked it up and looked around. Dumbledore looked carefully down at his menu and said clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!"
Pork chops appeared on his plate and Hailey wondered how Hermione was doing with the new and complicated method of dining, but it seemed like S.P.E.W. was far from Hermione's head, because she was deep in conversation with Viktor Krum to hardly notice what she was eating. Hailey looked her plate and said, "Goulash." Her chosen food appeared on her plate.
Malachi looked at his plate, "Stew?" It appeared on his plate and he smiled at Hailey.
"Oh, I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor," Dumbledore was saying to Karkaroff. "Only this morning, for instance I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never see before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon—or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."
Hailey and Malachi both snorted into their food, causing Percy to frown at them. Hailey could've sworn she saw Dumbledore give her a small wink.
After the food was consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Once everyone stood up, Dumbledore flicked his wand to make the tables fly along the walls, leaving the floor clear. With that, he conjured a raised platform along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.
The Weird Sisters trooped up onto the stage to wild enthusiastic applause. They were all extremely hairy and dressed up in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments and Hailey was eager to see them. She noticed that the lanterns on all the other tables had gone out and that the other champions and their partners were standing up.
"We're supposed to dance," Hailey said, forgetting what was coming. She stood up and the Weird Sisters struck up a slow, mournful tune. Hailey grabbed onto Malachi's hand as they walked onto the brightly lit dance floor. She was trying to avoid everyone's eyes, as she grabbed onto Malachi's shoulder and hand. He had placed one arm around her waist.
"I'll apologize now if I accidentally step on your feet," Hailey said.
"Okay," Malachi said and they revolved around on the floor. To many times to be coincidental, Malachi led her right past Cho and Cedric, who seemed to be taking the whole dancing thing way to seriously.
It seemed like the couples decided to join in on the dancing. Hailey passed right by Colton and Stephan.
"Nice dress! Very rock concert-like!" Stephan called.
"Thanks!" Hailey replied, looking back at him. He wore black clothing, with black robes with the sleeves rolled up. He wore his ever present wristbands and he had a chain belt, and a chain connected to two belt loops. Without the robes, he would've looked right at home at a rock concert.
Colton was actually dressed in a formal kilt.
"Wait, who was leading who?" Malachi asked, looking back at Stephan and Colton.
"Probably Colton," Hailey said, "He seems like he knows how to dance. Stephan looks like the only dancing that he has ever known was going to a rock concert and stomp on some people."
"Fair enough," Malachi said.
Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra, who seemed to be avoiding coming into contact with Moody's wooden leg.
"Nice socks, Potter." Moody said as he passed by; his magical eye fixed on Hailey's shoes.
"Oh, yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for me," said Hailey, smiling.
"That was kind of creepy," Malachi whispered, looking at Mad-Eye, who was clunking away. "He's kind of creepy. That eye freaks Ciara and Corey out."
"Corey?" Hailey asked confused.
"He's my best friend," Malachi said. "Ciara says that eye shouldn't even be allowed in this school."
The bagpipe gave one final quavering note which Hailey felt relief over. The Weird Sisters stopped playing and applause filled the Hall. The band started up on a faster song.
"Hey, this is 'Do The Hippogriff,'" Malachi said, looking interested.
"I'm going to go find Ron," Hailey said.
Malachi cringed, "Yeah. Knowing Ciara at this moment, she's probably telling him all about Jake." He sounded agitated at the name. They went to the table where Ron and Ciara were sitting at. Ciara was saying, "…broke up with me a week before the ball. Who does that?"
Ron was to busy glaring at Hermione and Krum who were dancing nearby.
Hailey and Malachi sat down at the table. Malachi grabbed two bottles of butterbeer and held one to Hailey and asked, "Want one?"
Hailey took it and Michael showed up, sitting at the table.
"Where's your date?" Hailey asked a little too harshly.
"I bored her into leaving," Michael said, sounding relieved. "I kept talking to her about Ancient Runes and she grabbed the nearest boy who happened to walk by."
Hailey was pleased to hear that. Malachi offered Michael a butterbeer, but Michael just glared at the fifth year Gryffindor who passed it to Ciara instead.
The song finished and Hermione sat down, looking pink. She was fanning herself.
"Hi," Malachi, Michael, and Hailey greeted her.
"Want a butterbeer?" Malachi asked.
"Oh, no, Viktor has gone to get some drinks," Hermione said.
"Viktor?" Ron asked, giving Hermione a withering look. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"
Michael, Hailey, Ciara, and Malachi looked at each other. Hermione looked surprised, "What's up with you?"
"If you don't know," said Ron in a very scathing tone, "I'm not going to tell you."
Hermione stared at Ron and then looked at Hailey. Hailey shrugged. She had no clue what was going on.
Hermione started, "Ron, what—?"
"He's from Durmstrange!" spat Ron. "He's competing against Hailey! Against Hogwarts! You, you're," Ron was trying to find the right words to describe what Hermione had done wrong, "fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"
They were now arguing over Krum. Hermione called Ron out on his hypocrisy for being excited when he noticed Krum. Ron guessed that Krum asked Hermione when she was in the library, which turned out to be correct, and Ron asked if Hermione was trying to convert him to S.P.E.W. but apparently she hasn't. Hermione said that the only reason why Krum kept going to the library was because he was trying to talk to Hermione, but he hasn't been able to get the courage.
Ron then said that Krum was trying to get to Hermione so he can jinx Hailey, but Hermione denied that because Krum hadn't asked Hermione about Hailey. Ron then said that Krum was just hoping to get Hermione's help on figuring out the golden egg, and Hermione then said that she would never help Krum figure out the golden egg, because she wants Hailey to win the tournament. Hermione then tried bringing Hailey into the argument by asking her if she knows that Hermione wants Hailey to win. Before Hailey can even respond, Ron sneered that Hermione had a funny way of showing it.
Malachi and Ciara were watching the fourth year Gryffindors as if they were a very interesting television program. Hailey was feeling very awkward about it and looked at Michael who was looking around as if he wanted an escape.
"Oh, look, there's Terry and Mandy—ooh, never mind," Michael said, looking away quickly.
Hailey looked to see that Mandy and Terry were busy snogging each other.
Hermione and Ron were still arguing. Hermione was saying that the point of the tournament was to get to know and make friends with foreign students. Ron argued that the point was to win.
Hailey was uncomfortable to see that people were beginning to stare at them. She tried to break up the argument by saying, "Ron, I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum—"
"Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are," Ron snapped at Hermione, ignoring Hailey.
Hermione jumped to her feet and left Ron a nice, "Don't call him Vicky!" as a parting gift. Ron seemed angry and satisfied.
That was the most uncomfortable thing Hailey had ever witnessed.
Krum arrived at their table holding two butterbeers. "Vare is Herm-own-ninny?"
"She went that way," Malachi said quickly, and pointed in the direction Hermione had ran off in.
Krum slouched off and Ron glared at Malachi. "Why did you tell him where she went?"
Malachi refused to answer.
"Made friends with Viktor Krum, have you, Ron?"
Percy had bustled over, rubbing his hands together and looking extremely pompous. "Excellent! That's the whole point, you know—international magical cooperation!" He sat down in the seat that Hermione had vacated.
Hailey looked at the top table which was now empty. Professor Dumbledore was dancing with Professor Sprout. Ludo Bagman was dancing with Professor McGonagall. Madame Maxime and Hagrid were waltzing through the students, creating a wide path. Hailey was sure that she saw that Professor Flitwick was an unwilling participate of a crowd surf and she was sure that she saw Crabbe trying to jump on Krum's back.
"Do you want to dance?" Ciara asked Percy, causing Percy's face to redden.
Malachi choked on his butterbeer and he seemed amused.
The song ended too much applause.
Hailey looked at Michael, who was looking bored. She considered asking him if he wanted a dance, since he annoyed his date into leaving.
"What do they think they're doing, annoying senior Ministry members?" Percy hissed. He was looking at something and Hailey turned to see that Fred and George had accosted Bagman. "No respect…"
Bagman shook off Fred and George and spotted Hailey. He waved and walked over to their table.
"I hope my brothers weren't bothering you, Mr Bagman?" said Percy at once.
"What?" Bagman said, looking caught off guard, "Oh, not at all, not at all! No, there were just telling me a bit more about those fake wands of theirs. Wondering if I could advise them on the marketing. I've promised to put them in touch with a couple of contacts of mine at Zonko's Joke Shop…"
Percy didn't look happy about that and Hailey was sure that Percy was going to tell his mother about that the moment he got home.
"Oh, they're plan on going public?" Ciara repeated, looking interested now. She looked at Malachi, "I'm going to talk to Fred and George about that." She got up and walked in the crowd.
"She doesn't have to tell me what she's going to do," Malachi said to Hailey. "She even tells me that she's going to the toilets before leaving."
Hailey looked at him, and agreed that would be annoying.
"How do you feel the tournament's going, Mr Bagman? Our department's quite satisfied—the hitch with the Goblet of Fire," Percy started and glanced at Hailey, "was a little unfortunate, of course, but it seems to have gone very smoothly since, don't you think?"
"Oh, yes," Bagman said cheerfully, "it's all been enormous fun. How's old Barty doing? Shame he couldn't come."
"Oh, I'm sure Mr Crouch will be up and about in no time," said Percy importantly, "but in the meantime, I'm more than willing take up the slack. Of course, it's not all attending balls," at that, he laughed airily, "oh, no, I've had to deal with all sorts of thing that have cropped up in his absence—you heard Ali Bashir was caught smuggling a consignment of flying carpets into the country? And then we've been trying to persuade the Transylvanians to sign the International Ban on Dueling. I've got a meeting with their Head of Magical Cooperation in the new year—"
"Let's go for a walk," Ron muttered to Hailey, Malachi, and Michael, "Get away from Percy…"
Michael gave Malachi a sharp look as they stood up from the table. Malachi decided that he was going to stay behind and listen to Percy and Bagman talk about Ministry stuff. Hailey, Ron, and Michael walked around the dance floor and into the entrance hall. The front doors stood open and Hailey looked at the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winking and twinkling. Hailey would've considered it romantic, if it was just her and Michael, but Ron was there, so it was just odd.
Michael handed the suit jacket to Hailey, "I'm going to need this back." At least he had a long-sleeved shirt on underneath it. Hailey took it and put it on.
They went down the front steps right in an area that was surrounded by rosebushes. There was winding, ornamental paths, and large stone statues. There was splashing water that was coming from a fountain. There were people sitting on carved benches and they set off along one winding path through the rosebushes. They got a short way when they heard, "…don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor." It was the unpleasant familiar voice of Snape.
"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening1" Karkaroff responded, sounding anxious. He was talking in a hushed tone as if he didn't want to be overheard. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it—"
"Then flee," Snape cut in, "Flee—I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."
The two came around the corner. Snape had his wand out and was blasting rosebushes apart, causing squeals and dark figures to come from the bushes. Snape was looking ill-natured.
A girl ran past them, causing Snape to snarl, "ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!" a boy ran by, "And ten points from Hufflepuff, Stebbins!" Snape looked at the three and seemed momentarily confused. "And what are you three doing?"
Karkaroff looked discomposed to see them standing there. He hand went to his goatee and began winding it around his finger.
"We're walking," Ron told Snape shortly, "Not against the law is it?"
"Keep walking, then!" Snape snarled and brushed past them, his long black cloak billowing out behind him. Karkaroff hurried after Snape. Hailey, Ron, and Michael hurried down the path.
"What was that all about?" Michael asked.
"What's got Karkaroff all worried?" Ron muttered.
"And since when have he and Snape been on first-name terms?" asked Hailey.
They walked up to a large stone reindeer now. There was a tall fountain behind the reindeer, which was shooting out water. There were two shadowy outlines of enormous people sitting on a stone bench watching the water.
"Momen' I saw yeh, I knew," Hagrid said. He was using an oddly husky.
Hailey, Ron, and Michael froze. Hailey couldn't help but think that this was something that they probably shouldn't walk in on. She looked around and noticed Fleur and Roger standing half-concealed in a rosebush nearby. She tapped her friends on their shoulders and motioned to them.
Michael seemed confused, like he was thinking 'why did you point that out?'
Ron seemed to get the hint about sneaking past them, but he shook his head, his eyes wide in horror. He shook his head and pulled Hailey and Michaeled deeper into the shadows behind the reindeer.
"What did you know, 'Agrid?" asked Madame Maxime in a purr.
Michael was making a face, "I rather not see giant love. That's going to be…" he trailed off, like he was trying to figure out what word to use. "Gross."
Hailey didn't want to listen to this, because he knew Hagrid would hate to be overheard having a conversation like this, she knew she would've. It would be embarrassing knowing that you were being overheard. She tried to interest herself in a beetle that was crawling along the stone reindeer's back.
"I jus' knew…knew you were like me…Was it yer mother or yer father?" Hagrid asked.
"I—I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid…" Madame Maxime replied.
"It was my mother," replied Hagrid. "She was one 'o the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too well…she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort."
"I don't want to hear this," Michael said, looking a little disturbed.
"Well…it's not in their natures, is it?" Hagrid continued, "Dunno what happened to her…might be dead fer all I know…"
Madame Maxime didn't say anything, and Hailey looked away from the beetle to look over the top of the reindeer's antles, listening…She never heard Hagrid talk about his childhood before and she felt bad for him.
"Me dad was broken-heared when she wen'. Tiny little bloke my dad was. By the time I was six, I could lift him up an' put him on top o' the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh…" Hagrid said. "Dad raised me…but he died, o'course, jus' after I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was…" Hagrid pulled out a large spotted silk handkerchief and blew his nose heavily. "So…anyway…enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?"
Madame Maxime got to her feet, "It is chilly." The weather didn't seem as cold as her voice, "I think I will go in now."
"Eh?" replied Hagrid blankly. "No, don't go! I've—I've never met another one before!"
"Anuzzer what, precisely?" asked Madame Maxime, her tone was icy.
Hailey wanted Hagrid to stay quiet and wanted to stand up and tell him not to respond, but it was no use.
"Another half-giant, o' course!" replied Hagrid.
"'Ow dare you!" shrieked Madame Maxime, her voice piercing the peaceful night air. It sounded like Fleur and Roger fell out of their rosebush. "I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-gaint? Moi? I 'ave—I 'ave big bones!" She stormed away, pushing bushes aside, causing multicoloured swarms of fairies to rise into the air. Hagrid was still sitting on the bench, staring after Madame Maxime. Hailey couldn't make out Hagrid's expression, but after a minute, he stood up and strode off towards his cabins.
"C'mon," Hailey said to Ron and Michael. "Let's go…" The two boys didn't move and Hailey sighed, "What's up?"
Ron looked very serious, "Did you know?"
"No," Hailey replied, shrugging. "He's nice. He's not vicious, even if it's his nature!"
"Let's go inside," Michael said. Fleur and Roger had disappeared, probably went to a more private clump of bushes. They returned to the Great Hall with Hailey handing the suit jacket back to Michael. Malachi and Ciara were sitting at a different together, looking bored out of their minds. Hermione was dancing with Krum once again.
"There's nothing wrong with Hagrid," Hailey hissed at them as they sat down with Malachi and Ciara.
"We know there isn't," Michael said.
"What's going on?" Ciara asked.
"Nothing," Hailey said. She noticed Madame Maxime who was looking somber faced. "I don't know who Maxime thinks she's kidding. The only thing that's got bigger bones than her is a dinosaur."
"Are you talking about giants?" Malachi asked, looking interested.
"A little," Hailey said and noticed how Michael rolled his eyes.
"I don't know why people never pointed out that Maxime can be a half-giantess," Malachi said. "She's very tall. I don't think—"
"Clearly," Michael muttered. Hailey almost kicked him.
Malachi rolled his eyes, obviously hearing Michael. "I don't know why people never noticed it or questioned her."
"They obviously don't care that she is," Ciara pointed out. "Or they'd rather not question it."
They spent the rest of the ball discussing giants. Malachi kept looking over at Cedric and Cho.
At midnight, the Weird Sisters finished playing and everyone gave them a last, loud round of applause, before they started to leave into the entrance hall. Hailey heard some people wishing that the ball could have gone on longer, but she wanted to go to bed. Hailey thought that the evening wasn't much fun, but she was sure that she would've enjoyed it better if she had gone with the person she wanted to go with.
Out in the entrance hall, Hermione was saying good night to Krum before he went back to the Durmstrang ship. She gave Ron a very cold look before going up the marble staircase without speaking.
She was halfway up the staircase with Michael and Ron when she heard, "Hey—Hailey!"
It was Cedric Diggory and Hailey noticed Cho was waiting in the entrance hall.
"Yeah?" asked Hailey as Cedric ran up the stairs towards her.
Cedric looked as if he didn't want to say whatever it was in front of Ron and Michael. Ron was looking bad-tempered all over again, headed upstairs. Michael spotted Terry Boot and Mandy, went to them.
"Listen…" Cedric lowered his voice, "I owe you one for telling me about the dragons. You know that golden egg? Does yours wail when you open it?"
"Yeah," replied Hailey, not sure where Cedric was going with it.
"Well…take a bath, okay?" Cedric said.
"Excuse me?" Hailey asked, feeling slightly insulted because she didn't smell. At least, she hoped she didn't.
"Take a bath, and—er—take the egg with you, and—er—just mull things over in the hot water. It'll help you think…Trust me," Cedric stated. Hailey stared at him. "Tell you what, use the prefects' bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password's 'pine fresh.' Gotta go…want to say good night—" He grinned at Hailey again and hurried down the stairs to Cho.
Hailey tagged along with Stephan Cornfoot and Colton Taylor as they headed to the Ravenclaw Tower. She was busy thinking that it was some strange advice Cedric gave her. Why would a bath help her work out what the wailing meant? Was Cedric pulling her leg? Why did she need to use the prefects' bathroom? And why did Michael seem to dislike Malachi so much, despite Malachi being nice?
Hailey wasn't sure what to think, even when they entered the common room.