Chapter 28: Yule Ball


Third Person POV:

11th of December 1994, Slytherin 4th year girl dorms, Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade Grounds, Scotland

It was a cold December day as the Yule Ball was announced to take place on the 25th during Christmas.

The heads of Houses explained the first dance to their students from year 4 and up, at least to those who didn't know a single thing about formal dancing.

"Hey Hope! Any clue on your secret admirer?" Isa asked as she walked into the girls dorm of the 4th year Slytherins.

Hope looked up from her essay on Ancient Runes before shaking her head. "No, not a single thing."

"Well, maybe he'll ask you for the Yule Ball, and you'll know!" Isa cheered.

"A secret admirer would never do something like that unless he truly wants to reveal himself. Yet according to mom, they never really do." Hope told, trying to get her sister stop cheering.

"But wouldn't it be great? You can see he loves you." Isa said.

"He probably knows dad, so he knows dad'll have his head if he does anything to me." Hope mumbled.

"Well, at least I already have a date to the ball." Isa announced.

Hope raised her eyebrow. "Valin is coming? Or did someone around here ask you?"

"Of course Valin is coming! Dad wouldn't risk another man to dance with me since it's out that Valin is destined to be my husband." Isa told.

"Yeah, I nearly forgot about that thing." Hope said, casting her eyes back at the book with runes.

Both Ben and Isa had been told their destinies, sent by their mother on paper the day after their 15th birthday.

Hope did wonder what her own destiny truly was, as she was concerned about Charlie too.

"Sis? Are you alright?" Isa asked.

Hope shook her head. "Not really, I think I should lay down for a while."

Isa smiled. "Well, I hope you'll get asked by a person that you do like." and she gracefully walked away.


20th of December 1994, Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade Grounds, Scotland

Everyone was busy with their dinner as a bronze coloured eagle with dark blue eyes came flying in through the glass window above the staff table.

The glass didn't end up anywhere near the teachers, but it kept hovering where it had sprung due to the eagle.

The eagle scattered three letters around, before flying back in a flash of gold that repaired the glass instantly.

Hope found one of the letters having fallen next to her goblet.

'to: Annabella Palpatine'

"Who would have sent me a letter?" Hope murmured, a questioning expression on her face as she opened the white envelope that was decorated with green and red lining.

When she pulled the golden coloured paper out, a beautiful silver ring fell out with it right beside her plate.

The silver ring contained a snake and a lion intertwined with one another, the snake eye laid in with an emerald, the lion's eye laid in with a ruby and diamonds everywhere else on the representation.

Isa, who was sitting on her right, Aquila, who was sitting on her left, and Ben, who sat in front of her, also took a look at the ring.

"Oh my goodness! This must be from your secret admirer!" Isa proclaimed, her eyes shining like diamonds.

Hope put the ring on, and it fit like it was made for her.

"This man must know your size." Aquila said.

Ben rolled his eyes. "Maybe you should read the letter."

"Good idea, brother." Hope said with a nod as she unfolded the golden paper.

There, in a beautiful curly handwriting, was written:

***/

'My Dearest noble Princess Annabella,

I cannot reveal who I am, at least, not yet. I want to, but I shall wait for Yule Eve, when the Ball at Hogwarts starts. I wish to accompany you.

If you think you don't know me, you do.

I have loved you since the day we met at Hogwarts

Even due my status and title as a Protector, I was still fearful of facing His Majesty. He did give me permission to ask you, as long as I swore the Vow to protect you from all harm that I am able to prevent.

My dearest Princess, will you give me the honour of being your date to the Yule Ball?

With all love from my heart,

the Gryffindor Protector.'

/***

Hope blinked for a moment.

Isa snatched the letter out of Hope's hands, reading it herself. Her eyes became even bigger the longer she read it. "Oh sister, you have attracted such a romantic and brave admirer!"

"Or a bold one!" Daphne said, who sat on Isa's other side.

Isa scoffed. "Dad may be the scariest man of all, but he's reasonable! See? He gave Hope's admirer a chance!"

"How are you feeling about this?" Aquila asked.

Hope turned to her fellow Slytherin. "I actually think that I have a clue about who he is."

"Makes that knowledge you wanna say yes or no to his question?" Aquila asked.

"I think it'd make a yes." Hope replied as she looked at the ring on her right hand.


It was Katie who'd gotten the second letter.

The green paper carrying the Palpatine family seal inside the silver envelope didn't quite surprise her as she read the letter.

***/

'My dear Katie,

I may have waited too long, but I want you to meet me after dinner in the Astronomy Tower. I have a gift and a question for you.

With love straight from the heart,

Aragon

/***

Katie rolled with her eyes.

Sometimes, Aragon could get over the top romantic. If he wanted too, of course.


The third and last letter had ended up next to Ginny's plate.

Her bronze envelope contained two separate letters.

One letter had red paper, which was from her father.

That one was actually just a note for her to stay safe and close to her brothers since darker times were near.

The other one was dark blue, from Stephano, written in silver ink if she'd like to be his date to the ball.

Ginny had gone over to Stephano to kiss his cheek and say yes.

It was a surprise to her that Stephano pulled her down on the wooden bench and kissed her nose.

So in silence, Ginny promised herself to look perfect for Stephano.


25th of December 1994, hallway to the Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade grounds, Scotland

Third Person POV:

The Palpatine sisters were still preparing their dresses and make up while the brothers were already in the hallway waiting for their dates.

"Ben, you still haven't told who your date is." Aragon said, winking at his younger brother.

Ben rolled with his eyes. "You'll see her."

Aragon laughed. "You're just as bad as old Master Katarn!"

"And you are as bad as Master Solusar!" Ben shot back.

"Don't you dare compare me to that old man! I'm much better than he is!" Aragon argued.

"Would you boys just shut up." it was Katie who said that.

The brothers turned around to see Aragon's girlfriend on top of the stairs.

Aragon blinked with his eyes, not believing what he saw.

Katie wore a blood red strapless lace dress with sleeves just over her elbows that revealed quite a lot of her feminine figure. Her breasts were partly bare, and even more attention was drawn to her low neckline through the fitting golden necklace that bore the Palpatine family crest. Lion head shaped earrings hang from her ears, her long dark brown hair was curled and gracefully combed and completed by a golden tiara with a few oval shaped rubies.

The Jedi Crown Prince bowed and held out his hands to her. "My lady, you have the looks of a true Princess."

"I would not dare to disappoint you, my Prince." Katie said as she laid her right hand in Aragon's, a golden ring with quite a big ruby on that same hand.

The younger brother found it suspiciously much looking like an engagement ring.

"I look forward to see your date, but it seems we have to gather over there." Aragon said. "I'll see her after the opening dance."

"Sure you will." Ben said as he again rolled with his eyes.

"By the way, Hope's admirer will reveal himself, hold your eyes open for me please." Aragon told before walking away.

Ben rolled his eyes again and chuckled for a brief moment.

"Ben? You're waiting for your date?" a voice asked.

The younger Palpatine brother turned around, finding both Charlie and Bill. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Aragon asked me to go with this Fleur Delacour woman because of her Allure and stuff." Bill replied.

The younger prince turned his gaze to Charlie, who was looking quite uncomfortable while holding some kind of necklace in his hands. He recognized it as Hope's angel necklace, the one she gave to Charlie like 3 years ago. "You're here for Hope, are you not? You're her admirer."

Charlie cast his gaze to the ground.

Ben laughed. "I must say, you're either brave or completely stupid!"

"That doesn't help!" Charlie groaned.

Ben places his right hand firmly on Charlie's left shoulder. "Hey, don't worry to much. I know Hope likes you, and I guess mom had to make dad realize that when you asked dad for permission."

"Pretty much what has happened." Charlie confirmed. "It took Her Majesty like two full days to convince the King."

The three boys started laughing, through they knew it wasn't much of a joke to start with since it was probably very true.

"Hey guys!" someone greeted.

The three stopped laughing, finding Valin walking up to them dressed in black dress robes. His brown hair was still a bird's nest, but everyone within the Jedi Order knew it was the unruly hair that he got from his father Corran Horn.

"Bill, Fleur is right over there." Ben said, pointing at the silvery haired woman who was dressed in a silvery coloured gown made of French chiffon.

Bill blinked with his eyes. "Indeed, she's a Veela. Luckily I won't turn into a brainless idiot around her, my goodness."

"It's a thing that comes with Force Sensitivity." Ben told.

"I'd better go introduce myself." Bill said as he straightened his tie before walking over to the Veela, introducing himself and kissing her hand, his eyes never leaving her eyes.

And it seemed Fleur appreciated someone who didn't look at her body.

Ben looked at his watch. "My date will be here soon."

"I already have arrived." a feminine voice said.

The boys shifted their gazes to their right, finding a girl with blonde hair put up in a bun, dressed in a Slytherin green dress that wasn't too formfitting but had an open back. Her jewellery was all snake like shaped.

"Daphne, you look absolutely stunning." Ben complimented her as he held out his hand.

"Thank you, Ben." Daphne said, giving him a brilliant smile as she laid her hand in his.

Ben and Daphne left the other boys at the staircase.

"So, how did you meet Hope?" Valin asked. "You weren't one of the younglings at the Temple."

"I met her at the beginning of her 1st year, I was a 5th year. She was scaring the poltergeist away, using her authority as a Palpatine. We started talking and yeah... then the rest of the story that still goes on. How about you and the Princess Isabella?" Charlie replied.

"I met Isa through the youngling training program at the Temple when we were eight. We both found we were the one for one another." Valin replied. "Yet I still cannot overcome my fear for the King."

"I admit, he's a very scary man. Not even my father, the General of the Gryffindor Knights, cannot fear the King. That man is far to scary for his own good, he truly scares off any potential son-in-law." Charlie said.

"Tell me what!" Valin mumbled. "I've had to deal with that since I was merely a kid."

"I'm glad I'm not you!" Charlie said.

Then, the two angelic voices they'd been waiting for, said something from behind them. "Hello boys, missed us?"

Both turned around, finding the two Palpatine sisters in their stunning dresses.

Charlie felt his breath go away as he saw Hope in that beautiful mermaid shaped silver silk gown with a deep neckline that exposed her round breasts quite well. The snake necklace he'd given her two and a half years ago for Valentine was present around her neck, as well as the pearl bracelet he gave her for Christmas in 3rd year, and the new silver ring he gave her only five days ago. Her platinum blonde hair hang loose over her shoulders and down her back.

Valin had a similar reaction to Isa's figure hugging chiffon gown with a flowy skirt. There was silver beating on the top. The flowy skirt didn't hide Isa's long and sexy legs so well, since it exposed them with a slit. Her long brown hair was put in a style Valin hadn't seen before, and all the jewellery she wore were gifts from her father.

Both boys bowed for their Princesses, holding out their hands.

As Hope took Charlie's hand, she whispered in his ear: "Never knew you could be so romantic, Charles."

The way Hope said his name made shivers run down his spine.

Valin flushed bright red as he caught himself staring at Isa's legs.

Both girls laughed as their dates felt awkwardness overcome them.

"Let's go then." Hope said.

The two pairs entered the Great Hall.

They got everyone's heads turning.

Girls gasped at the sight of the dresses and boys felt incredibly jealous of the boys that were on the arm of the Princesses.

Yet all the attention would once again be drawn to the floor where the Champions did the first dance.

Yet one pair of eyes could not be torn away from Hope.


Ronald's POV:

I cannot believe it!

Charlie... what have we all done to deserve this from you? I thought there was hope for you yet, that mom would welcome you back in the family, but you have fallen from grace now that you love that hypnotizing vixen.

Hope should have been mine, would have been if she'd been a Gryffindor, but she's turned into a hypnotizer. She'll take your life once you've put a child inside of her, so she can move to the next prey. The day she believed the Palpatines, she fell from her place in heaven.

Charlie, if you'd only wake up!

I was shaken from my thoughts as Charlie danced with Hope on the dance-floor, he drowning in her eyes while she had a wicked smile on hers while her gaze was hypnotizing my older brother.

The next thing that shocked me was the sight of Ginny.

Her one-shoulder dress with leaf decoration exposed too much of her skin to my liking, but it seemed that Stephano appreciated the uncovered skin as he was standing behind her, his nose smelling the scent of her neck.

It looked like they were about to have public sex, and it made me sick!

Lavender's voice interuped my brain. "They're not worth it, let her be that whore if she wants to."

But still... something doesn't feel right, something about this whole family.

How is it possible, that a pair of non-Sensitives, gets five Sensitive children out of the seven they have? According to that book mom gave me, that shouldn't even be possible!

Then again... father holds a lot of secrets.

Then maybe, he is Force-Sensitive after all...

No, I don't want to think like that!

Please, by God, don't let my father by Force-Sensitive!


I hope it's a bit good.

Suggestions for upcoming chapters are very welcome! Thank you!

~ Artemis Hunter 441


Dresses: (to view them, don't forget to delete the spaces!)

Katie's dress: w w w . ali express item / Adorable - Red - Mermaid - Prom - Dress - 2015 - Boat - Neck - Half - Sleeves - Zipper - Button - Tulle - Lace - Evening - Party / 323 042 772 06 . html ? spm = 21 14 . 40 01 03 08 . 4 . 74 . UlO 7zC

Isabella's dress: w w w . ali express item / Free - Shipping - 2014 - Fashion - New - Sexy - Sweetheart - Front - Slit - Emerald - Green - Chiffon - Mermaid - Evening - Dress - Formal / 16 48 22 11 51 . html

Hope's dress: w w w . ali express item / Luxury - Sequin - Silver - Mermaid - Evening - Dress - V - Neck - Short - Sleeves - Floor - Length - Formal - Evening - Gown - With / 32 30 15 86 46 5 . html

Ginny's dress: (number 11 from top) 24 my fashion 2016 / beautiful - dark - blue - dresses - 2016 - 2017 /