Year 4

Chapter 25: That Old Yule Tide Ball Feeling

New chapter by Steve2

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything related to it.

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The night of the Yule Ball was a special night. All the young people dressed up to eat fancy food and dance to a night's music. Yes, it had turned out to be a good idea to bring the Tri-Wizard tournament out of slumber, Dumbledore thought. The crowd was waiting to enter the Hall, the other headmasters waiting with their delegations. All they were waiting for now was the last of the champions to arrive with their date.

There was young Cedric with his date from Ravenclaw if Albus wasn't mistaken. There was the Beauxbatons champion, Fleur, and her date, also from Hogwarts. And the Durmstrang student was escorting young Miss Granger. Now where was… ah, there he is. Mr. Potter was bringing as his date a young lady wearing… wearing… what was that thing on her head?

"Hello, Harry," Cedric grinned at the fellow champion.

"Cedric," Harry cordially replied as he helped keep the accompaniment on his date's head.

"Who is your date?" Cedric tried to keep his voice from chuckling at Harry's frantic efforts.

"Luna," Cho answered for the group. "Luna Lovegood."

"Hello, Cedric," Luna smiled at the champion. "Hello, tramp," she smiled sweetly at Cho.

"That hat you vear," Victor Krum started, pointing at the hat on Luna's head.

"You like it? It's my Vulture hat."

"It is very becoming," Victor pointed out. "My grandmother had one like it."

Luna smiled and nodded. "It is very retro, I know. But I think it is going to make a comeback to the height of fashion."

"It certainly makes her stand out," Harry grumbled, still playing with the hat.

"Vat do you wear, Harry?" Victor inquired.

"Don't mind Harry," Luna smiled at the international seeker. "I know what you are thinking – that Harry is wearing black robes over some sweat clothes. But it was a compromise on his part in order to attend the ball in the first place."

"I wanted comfort," Harry finally got the hat to stay in one place.

"And I wanted a hat," Luna said simply.

Then both Harry and Luna said in unison, "And we both had to dress up. This is what you get."

"I thought you would have taken one of your minions," Roger commented.

"I had thought of that," Harry returned. "I had to hold a meeting with them to tell them I was taking Luna to the ball. They weren't happy with that, but I did agree to dance with all of my minions tonight. Well, at least the girl minions."

"Colin wasn't happy with that I hear," Hermione smirked.

"Don't go there," Harry smirked back.

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As the champions and their dates ate dinner, it was inevitable that the topic of the first task would come up.

"Harry, help me to understand," Victor started with a piece of chicken on his fork. "Vhat vere you doink vith the dragon?"

Harry looked at him and arched an eyebrow. Realization struck. "Oh, that's right. You're just temporarily here. It wasn't a dragon. Don't let its size intimidate you. Some scientists in this facility are going gang busters on genetic mutations. I try to ignore them as best I can. So should you."

Fleur was flummoxed. "But, what about your magic, 'Arry? You must compete or lose it," she pointed out the obvious.

Harry grinned and shook his head negatively. "Magic. Right. As far as I'm concerned, all I have to do is show up and that's competing enough. That ought to be enough for the head inmate."

Little did Harry know that some adults were listening in to the conversation the champions were having at their table.

"Blast it, Dumbledore," Crouch hissed at the older man. "How did he find that loophole?"

Dumbledore stroked his beard, contemplating what he had just heard. "He is gifted in finding his way around the laws of magic, that's for certain. It comes naturally to him."

"We need to find a way to get him to compete," Crouch thought aloud.

"I will work on it for the next task," Albus replied.

"You got him the egg after the first task?" Albus nodded that he had. "What was his reaction to it?"

"He said he was going to hock it, whatever that means."

"He needs to find out about the clue," implored Crouch.

"He will. I have no doubt about that," Dumbledore continued to stroke his beard.

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Steve2