Chapter 35
The last week of term became increasingly boisterous as it progressed. Rumors about the Yule Ball were flying everywhere, for instance, that Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta.
Some of the teachers, like little Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach us much when our minds were so clearly elsewhere; he allowed us to play games in his lesson on Wednesday. Other teachers were not so generous. Nothing would ever deflect Professor Binns, for example, from plowing on through his notes on goblin rebellions. Professors McGonagall and Moody kept us working until the very last second of their classes too, and Snape, of course, would no sooner let them play games in class than adopt Harry.
One night after History class of Magic, Harry and I returned to the common room.
Ron was sitting ashen-faced in a distant corner. Ginny was sitting with him, talking to him in what seemed to be a low, soothing voice.
"What's up with him?" I ask, pointing Ron.
"He — er — just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him," said Ginny. She looked as though she was fighting back a smile, but she kept patting Ron's arm sympathetically.
"You what?" said Harry.
"I don't know what made me do it!" Ron gasped. "What was I playing at? There were people — all around — I've gone mad — everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall — she was standing there talking to Diggory — and it sort of came over me — and I asked her!"
"What did she said?" I ask.
"I don't know I ran for it." said Ron.
Harry, Fred, George, and I laughed until our stomachs hurt.
"Well, did you ask Cho?" Ron said, defensively.
"She said she was going with someone else." Harry mutters. I patted Harry's back sympathetically. I know the feeling mate.
"You will find someone." I say. I glance up and see Ginny chatting with Hermione about something. I suddenly remember our trip to go to the Portkey. Ginny saying that she loved me, (only joking, of course) and then Hermione was frowning. What if . . . ?
"Ginny," I say loudly and both of them turn to look at me.
"What?" she called back.
"Want to come to the ball with me?"
Ginny gave me an appraising sort of look.
"All right, then," she said, and she turned back to Hermione and carried on chatting with a bit of a grin on her face. Hermione, on the other, was frowning. Good. Let's see if she likes how it feels.
"Now let go for dinner." Ron said.
Everyone now headed back to dinner. As usual, Hermione, Ron, Harry and I sat together.
"Who are you going with then? Harry you have to have a partner." I tell him.
"I know…" he stopped because something distracted him. The Patil twins walked by us and said hello to Harry.
"Wait up" he called after them and ran to where they were. I shake my head and laugh.
Weeks passed and it was now time for the ball. I opened the box and found a black robe with a white, buttoned-down shirt underneath. It was like the robes of the school but more formal. I went down to the entrance hall and waited for Ginny, like she asked me a few hours ago.
The entrance hall was packed with students, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another.
The oak front doors opened, and everyone turned to look as the Durmstrang students entered with Professor Karkaroff. Krum was at the front of the party, accompanied by a girl in red robes I didn't know.
"You look pretty" I tell Ginny, as bow.
"Thank you." she said. She had a green dress that looked really nice on her.
Then Professor McGonagall's voice called, "Champions over here, please!"
Professor McGonagall, who was wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a rather ugly wreath of thistles around the brim of her hat, told them to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside; they were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down. Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies stationed themselves nearest the doors; Davies looked so stunned by his good fortune in having Fleur for a partner that he could hardly take his eyes off her. Harry was standing next to one of the Pavarati girls, looking uncomfortable. Then my eyes fell to on the girl next to Krum. My jaw dropped.
It was Hermione
She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow — or maybe it was merely the absence of the twenty or so books she usually had slung over her back. She was also smiling — rather nervously. I couldn't understand how I hadn't spotted her before.
"Hi, Harry!" she said. "Hi, Parvati! Hi, Tony! Hi, Ginny!"
Parvati was gazing at Hermione in unflattering disbelief. She wasn't the only one either; when the doors to the Great Hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing Hermione looks of deepest loathing. Pansy Parkinson gaped at her as she walked by with Malfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able to find an insult to throw at her. I just stared at her; with my mouth hang open, wanting to kiss her now more than ever.
Let's be honest, if Hermione and I were playing the game "let's-see-who-gets-more jealous" she has won by far. How am I supposed to compete with Viktor Krum?
Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. We did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as we entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.
The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.
Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff wore an expression remarkably like mines as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. But Mr. Crouch was not there. The fifth seat at the table was occupied by Percy Weasley.
We could order what we wanted. But I didn't, I was still glaring at Hermione. And I don't skip the meal for nothing. I couldn't believe it. She and Krum. Krum and she. When did this happen? Was I so absorbed in the tasks I didn't realized what was going on? How could I miss it?
It now occurred to me that I had never actually heard Krum speak before, but he was certainly talking now and very enthusiastically at that.
"Veil, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking," he was telling Hermione. "Ve have just four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds larger even than these — though in vinter, ve have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains —"
"Now, now, Viktor!" said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes, "don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy . . . one would almost think you didn't want visitors."
"Well, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, displaying his yellowing teeth to their fullest extent, "we are all protective of our private domains, are we not?"
Hermione was now teaching Krum to say her name properly; he kept calling her "Hermy-own."
"Her-my-oh-nee," she said slowly and clearly.
"Herm-own-ninny."
"Close enough," she said catching everyone's eyes and grinning. I grunted. I feel like I am about to puke.
When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.
The Weird Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn.
The Weird Sisters struck up a slow, mournful tune; I walked onto the brightly lit dance floor, carefully avoiding catching anyone's eye (I could see Seamus and Ron waving at me and sniggering), and next moment, Ginny had gently seized my hands, placed one around her waist, and was holding the other in hers.
It wasn't as bad as it could have been. Dancing with Ginny was something that didn't felt forceful at all, we enjoyed ourselves. But I looked at Hermione discretely, or what I thought was discretely until my Ginny broke of my thoughts.
"You know there is no point in denying you like her, right?" she said, following my gaze.
"How did you know?" I ask, surprised.
"Well, you are a bit obvious. Both of you actually."
"She likes me?"
She shrugs. "You will never know until you ask."
I heard the final, quavering note from the bagpipe. The Weird Sisters stopped playing; applause filled the hall once more. Then Weird Sisters struck up a new song, which was much faster. After three or four songs I told Ginny I was going to get some drinks. When I came back Hermione saw that she was talking to Krum. It cost me a lot to stay calm. I got the sensation that he was up to something, and I don't like it. I stand a few feet away from them; I glance at Hermione hoping that she notices me. When she does I raise my eyebrow. She shakes her head and asks me to come.
"This is my friend, Anthony." Hermione tells Krum, when I arrive next to them. "Viktor, Anthony. Anthony, Viktor. But I think you know each other of course."
Normally I would shake hands with the new guy and say something like Nice to meet you, even though we have already met, but right now I don't feel like doing those things. I eye him up and down, before nodding slightly. He does the same. I glace over to Hermione, who is fighting not to grin. What's so funny? We stay in silence for a moment, tension filling in the air.
"So . . ."Hermione says. "I will see you later"
"Yeah, I have to go," I say quickly. "Ginny is waiting for me."
I get the drinks and head over to Ginny who is now talking with a boy whose name I don't know.
"Hello" I say, interrupting them. They both look at me.
"Hello" says the kid. "Are you Ginny's partner? I was wondering if I could dance with her . . ."
"Give me your name, age, house and intention" I tell him firmly.
"Tony, you are embarrassing me" Ginny whispers. But the kiddo doesn't seem to mind all my questions.
"Michael Corner, 14, Ravenclaw, I want to dance with her and get to know her" he says obediently.
I stare at him coldly. I just want to mess with this boy, see if he is worth my approval.
"I think you passed the test" I smiled. "I want her safe and sound all the time, did you hear me? Unless you want face me and her brothers"
Michael gulps but nods. I leave them alone and head to the table were Harry and Ron are sitting.
"How's it going?" Harry asked me, while I sat down and opened a bottle of butterbeer.
"How do you think?" I say, glaring at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby.
"I know how you feel" he tells me, he was now watching Cho and a boy named Cedric.
Ron is sitting on the other end of the table, just being . . . Ron. When the song ended, Hermione did not return to the table, like I silently expected her to do. Three songs have passed, Hermione does not come back, and my heart feels worse with each.
I can't take it anymore. I stand up and make the decision of go and look for her. I can use the excuse that I want to dance with her. Just when my eyes spotted her, I see her laugh of something Krum said, and then our eyes connect. We look into each other eyes for a moment, I see regret, but why? She regrets she accepted Krum's invitation? Regretted turning and seeing me?
I stare a little longer, before leaving the Great Hall. I march towards the common room in a slow pace, I need some air. I am half-way through the stairs when I hear Hermione call my name.
"Where are you going?" she asks. I turn on my heels.
"I am going to sleep." I say emotionless.
"Why?"
"Because I am tired" And it wasn't exactly a lie. I was tired of seen her have fun and dance with Krum.
"It is still early."
"So? It is not like you need me. You are not going to be alone; you can spend the rest of time with Vicky." I grunt.
Hermione looked at me in surprise. "What's up with you?" she said.
"I don't know… I just had enough of seeing the two of you dance and laugh, while I was sitting on the table waiting for you." I spat. "You know what's worse? That is obvious that he likes and I spent half of my night watching how he flirted with you."
"You are jealous?" she says in disbelief.
I ignore her questions. "Answer me one question please. What does he have that I don't?"
"Why do you care? You are not my boyfriend; we are not even dating . . ."
"It's not like I don't want to . . ." I mutter.
"So, let me get this straight. You're not my boyfriend, but you want to be and you're jealous of Viktor…?
"Of course I am jealous. Don't you understand?" I yell, moving my hands in the air, losing my patience.
"Understand what?"
"I love you Hermione, and I hate seeing you with someone else."
Yay! Here is what for me is the most anticipated chapter of all. The Yule Ball. I have been waiting for Sunday to come so badly, I wanted to upload this chapter as soon as I could. So now, what do you think? I bet you did not expected it to end this way. I do not know about you but I like how it ends . .. well maybe I like it because I know what comes next. . . Anyway, I got a review that asked not to make Anthony miserable like Harry and Ron were, but I had to do it if I wanted Hermione to pay attention to him. So what do you think is going to happen next? Will Hermione stay and listen to him? Will she slap him and go back to Krum? You will have to wait another week to find out. Sorry.
-Lobo Sombra