Bang!
Mason laughed as the cracker exploded, sending a handful of brightly coloured glitter into the air. The colours disappeared as a small white mouse scurried out of the cracker end. It sniffed the air, twitched its nose, and then disappeared down the table, hiding under a bowl of fruit.
Teddie smiled and tossed the broken end of her cracker aside. Mason had won the cracker's tug-o-war and was now ramming a purple hat onto his head. The Slytherin table was ladened with over a hundred roast turkeys, with all the trimmings, and Christmas puddings.
"I can't believe the Yule Ball is tonight," said Astoria. "The last two weeks went by really fast."
Daphne nodded and added a spoonful of ice cream to her pudding. "We should consider what time we want to start getting ready," she said. "The dormitories are going to be packed this year. Pansy and Millicent may even hog the bathroom, just to spite us."
Teddie glanced across at the two girls in question. They were whispering about the upcoming festivities that evening. "I'm quite surprised that Bulstrode is even going," she said. "She wasn't all that thrilled when McGonagall told us about it, and I overheard her telling Parkinson that she considered going home."
"Pansy wouldn't allow that," said Daphne. "She may be Malfoy's date tonight, but she needs at least one of her girl-friends alongside her."
Teddie returned her attention to her food. "If you want to be ready before them tonight, that's alright with me," she said. "We could always head back to the Common Room early."
"That'd work. We could bathe first and be getting ready when they are just starting," said Daphne. "We also don't have to stay in the dormitories or the common room with them then, either."
"Okay, then we'll do that," said Teddie.
Daphne nodded.
"Now that is settled," said Blaise. "What are we going to do for the rest of the day? I don't feel like heading to the library, or the Study Hall and the common room is rather a tight squeeze this year."
"We could have a snowball fight," said Mason, swallowing his orange juice.
"We had a snowball fight this morning, already," said Astoria. "You want another one?"
Teddie smiled at Astoria. "There's no limit on how many snowball fights you can have in one day," she said. She spied Harry Potter and his friends getting up from the Gryffindor table, and heading outside.
"What you looking at?" Theo asked, following her gaze.
"How about an inter-house snowball fight?" Teddie asked. "I'm sure we could find some people from Hufflepuff that wouldn't mind participating?"
~X~
The snow outside wasn't as pristine as it usually was, already footsteps were leading up and down from the castle, left behind behind the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students; but the tracks did nothing to diminish the height of the snow. It still came up to almost their knees.
Teddie looked around at those that had agreed to participate in the annual snowball fight - she had managed to round up a few Hufflepuffs which included third Hogwarts Champion Cedric Diggory, Fifth-year prefect Kate Moss, and even Head Boys Marcus Turner.
"How are we going to play this?" Astoria asked, looking around at the sheer number of people that had turned up to play.
"Is it the same rules as normal?" Mason asked.
"You have rules in a snowball fight?" Fred Weasley asked.
Teddie shrugged. "They're exactly rules," she said. "More guidelines, if you want. The only one that I would say we stick too, is the younger groups get a headstart."
"Why would you need a headstart?" George asked.
"Back home, we use our headstart to get to higher ground," said Mason. "Strategically, from high ground, you have a higher chance of winning."
Fred and George shared a look.
"But only the younger groups get the headstart," said Teddie. "It's only fair."
The twins grinned.
"I don't mind playing by your rules," said Harry. "I saw you playing last year; it looked fun."
Teddie smiled. She took a few minutes to exchange the rules and then the individuals split into teams.
"Everyone ready?" Teddie asked, looking around at the teams. They had opted for nine teams of two people. The others nodded. "Mason, Astoria, clock's counting."
Mason and Astoria took off, and once the countdown reached zero, the others did the same.
~X~
At six o'clock, when their hands were numb and arms ached, the snowball fighters put down their weapons and headed inside. While some players, like Teddie, Fred and George had been playing to see who could win, the others were just enjoying a friendly game. It had ended without a winner, and the Weasley twins made Teddie promise that they would continue it at a later date - she had agreed.
"Pansy and Millicent may have beaten us to the dormitories by now," said Daphne. "But, we could just hang out by the fire until they're done. They can't shower forever."
"What if they jinx the showers?" Astoria asked. "I mean, I wouldn't put it past them. Isn't there anywhere else you can get ready?"
Teddie looked at Daphne. "I'd like to think that Parkinson wouldn't be that petty, but she's got a point," she said.
"Yeah. But where else can we go?" Daphne asked. "We aren't Prefects, so we can't use the Prefects bathroom, and we aren't allowed inside the other common rooms."
"What about the boys' dorms?" Mason suggested. "Can't you use the shower in there?"
"That would mean being around Malfoy and his friends," said Teddie. "I'm not comfortable with that."
"You could take shorts and t-shirts for when you get out of the shower," said Mason. "They're just something to get you from the boys' dorm back to your own."
Teddie and Daphne looked to Blaise and Theo.
"I don't know how the washrooms work in the girls' dorms," said Blaise. "But we have five showers. Crabbe and Goyle couldn't get dates for tonight, so it's a good chance they aren't going to take long cleaning up."
Teddie looked to Daphne. "I'll do it if you do," she said.
"Fine by me," said Daphne.
Astoria grinned. "Great. So, what time are you meeting us in the Entrance Hall?" she asked.
"7:30?" Mason asked. "It doesn't start until 8. 7:30 gives us plenty of time to find one another."
The friends agreed and then separated.
~X~
Teddie stared at her reflection in the mirror. She and Daphne were alone in the girls' dormitories - Parkinson and Bulstrode had left almost ten minutes ago - and were adding the final touches to their hair, makeup and dresses.
Daphne was currently in the bathroom, fixing her makeup. She had already changed into her off-the-shoulder, royal blue dress, and had simply put most of her hair up into a bun, and left the rest curling around her shoulders.
"Are you ready?" Daphne called. "I'm almost done."
"Yeah," Teddie called back. The dress that Ursula had bought for her hugged her body perfectly, almost too perfectly, she wondered if Ursula had bought this dress custom-made for her specifically. The white tulle was crisp but still felt like silk. The satin sash roped around her waist, emphasising the delicate lace adorning the bodice. The back was open, showing more skin than she was comfortable with, but she had a feeling people would be more focused on her choice of date, than what she was wearing; at least she hoped they did.
"You look beautiful," said Daphne, emerging from the bathroom.
Teddie forced a smile, although it didn't reach her eyes. "Is it too late to say no?" she asked.
Daphne offered her friend a sympathetic smile. "You're going to be fine," she said. "And, besides, we're going to be there with you."
Teddie nodded and looked back at the mirror. "You want to do my hair and makeup now, don't you?"
"I'll keep it simple," said Daphne. She motioned for Teddie to sit on the bed and stepped up in front of her.
Teddie sat down and took a deep breath. She trusted Daphne, but that still didn't mean she enjoyed being made a fuss over.
~X~
The entrance hall was packed with students.
Theo, Mason, and Blaise stood together at the bottom of the Marble staircase. Each of them wearing black, velvet dress robes, while Astoria stood beside them in a baby-blue knee-length dress, her hair hung in small curls around her shoulders. She blushed as Mason looked her over.
"Where are Teddie and Daphne?" Astoria asked.
"They're coming," said Theo. "Daphne is trying to convince Teddie to not throw up."
"Oh," Astoria said.
Minutes later, the door leading to the dungeons opened, and Daphne, followed by a very self-conscious Teddie, stepped through.
"Wow," Blaise gasped. "You two look amazing!"
"Thanks!" Daphne beamed.
Teddie averted her eyes and fiddled with the skirt of her dress. She mumbled a small thank you but didn't look up.
The oak doors leading out into the grounds opened, and the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students entered, all of them had dates, and heading the group was Viktor Krum with Hermione Granger on his arm.
"Wow. Hermione Granger with Viktor Krum?" Astoria said. "Lucky!"
Daphne smirked, teasingly. "You're not jealous, are you?" she asked.
"Please," Astoria scoffed. "I'm impressed more by the fact that she said yes to him. She could do better."
Teddie laughed and felt slightly better. At least her friend's attention was no longer on her, but even that was a small victory, given in a few minutes the doors to the Great Hall would open and she would be the centre of attention, along with other champion's dates.
"You're looking a little green, Teddie, you alright?" Blaise asked.
Teddie swallowed and nodded, weakly.
"She's regretting saying yes to being Potter's date," said Astoria. "She doesn't want to be the centre of attention."
"In that dress," said Blaise. "You'd be the centre of attention regardless of your date. You look beautiful. What do you think, Theo?"
Theo met Teddie's gaze and then quickly averted it. "Beautiful," he said.
Teddie blushed.
"Champions over here, please!" Professor McGonagall called over the noise. Teddie felt her heart thud in her chest as she looked around, wildly. She spotted Harry standing nearby with his Ron.
Daphne grasped Teddie's shoulders as she took a step forward. "Just remember to breathe," she said. "You may be Potter's date, but like I said downstairs, we're going to be right there with you. You'll dance first, with the other champions, but then the rest of the night will be our choice. We'll come find you, alright?"
Teddie smiled and then nodded. She took a deep breath and made her way through the crowd to where Harry was standing.
"Hi," said Harry. "You look, er, beautiful," he said, awkwardly.
"So everyone keeps saying," said Teddie.
"You don't think so?"
Teddie shrugged. "I don't see myself as beautiful," she said. "I'm pretty, sure, but beautiful is usually reserved for people who are better looking than me. Someone like Delacour, for example."
Harry looked over at Fleur, she was standing with her date, Roger Davis of Ravenclaw. "Well, given I know she is part Veela, I'd say that is a pretty unfair comparison."
"Thanks, Harry," said Teddie.
At exactly 8 o'clock, the doors to the Great Hall opened and the rest of the school filed inside. Teddie's friends offered her good luck wishes as they passed. Once the Entrance Hall was empty, and the rest of the school had settled down in their seats, Professor McGonagall led the champions inside.
The walls of the Great Hall had 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 round, lantern-lite ones, each seating about a dozen people.
Teddie offered Harry a small smile and took his arm, clinging to it as they both followed behind Cedric and his date, Cho Chang down the centre of the Hall and up to the high table where the judges were waiting for them.
Teddie noticed that it wasn't only the judges that were present. She recognised Ludo Bagman was also sitting there, but, in the seat that was supposed to have belonged to Barty Crouch, the familiar face of Percy Weasley sat instead.
"I don't understand," said Teddie to Harry. "Mr Crouch agrees to let the TriWizard Tournament try again, but refuses to attend the events that go alongside it?"
Harry shrugged, unable to answer.
As the champions reached the top table, Percy drew out a chair and stared at Harry. It was obvious that he wanted him to sit there. Harry did, and Teddie sat beside him.
"I've been promoted," said Percy, instantly. "I am now Mr Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."
"Why can't he come himself?" Harry asked.
"I'm afraid Mr Crouch isn't well, not well at all," said Percy. "Hasn't been right since the World Cup. 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 -"
"How's Sierra?" Teddie interrupted.
Percy blinked and stared at the young Slytherin. He did not look impressed that she had interrupted his speech, but he answered her question nonetheless. "She's fine," he said. "You knew about us, then?"
"It wasn't that hard to figure out," said Teddie. "Sure, Sierra had numerous friends in other houses, especially Gryffindor, but she only ever served Prefect duties with you, even before you both became Head Boy and Girl."
Percy made a small noise in the back of his throat. "Well, as I said, she's fine," he said. "I did invite her, but she denied my request."
"Shame. It would've been nice to see her again," said Teddie. "Although, she'd probably be disappointed to learn that Malfoy, Parkinson, and I are still fighting."
"Indeed," said Percy.
Harry smiled at Teddie as Percy turned his attention to the menu in front of him. She winked and smirked, doing the same. There was no food on the table, and the menu simply listed a few choices that looked delicious already.
"How do we -?" Harry started. He broke off as Dumbledore set down his menu and looked at his plate.
"Pork Chops!" the Headmaster said, and Pork Chops appeared on his plate.
Teddie's eyes widened and she looked at her menu. "What do you feel like, Harry?" she asked.
"I have absolutely no idea," Harry replied.
Teddie laughed. "I think I'll have the Beef Wellington," she said. "I heard my dad telling me about this. He had it once, during his honeymoon with my mum; he said it was amazing."
A steak pie with glazed mushrooms and a side of chips appeared on her plate.
"I think I'll have the goulash," said Harry.
Teddie set down her menu and picked up her knife and fork. The pastry of her meal fell apart as she cut into it, and the meat was so tender it practically melted in her mouth.
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, the tables all disappeared, and a raised podium appeared along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a flute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.
"What's going on?" Harry whispered to Teddie.
"Aren't they the Weird Sisters?" Teddie whispered back. She was nodding at the group of men that had just trooped onto the stage.
Harry watched, mesmerised as the bad took up their instruments and started to play a soft melody.
"Harry, get up," Teddie suddenly whispered. She tugged Harry to his feet and led him down onto the dancefloor, along with the other champions.
"What are we -?" Harry asked, cutting off mid-sentence.
"Daphne was telling me about this outside," said Teddie. "The champions are the first to dance, followed by the rest of the guests."
Harry looked alarmed. "I can't dance," he said.
"Neither can I," said Teddie.
Nervous, and fully aware that he was being watched, Harry placed his hand on Teddie's waist, as she placed one of her's on his shoulder. They locked their free hands together and started to revolve slowly on the spot, keeping in time with the music.
It wasn't so bad, Teddie thought as she and Harry twirled around the other dancers. It was no longer just the champions dancing, Professor Dumbledore was dancing with Madame Maxime, Neville Longbottom was dancing with Ginny Weasley, Mason was dancing with Astoria - he beamed at Teddie as she caught his eye - and even Professor Moody was doing a strange two-step dance with Professor Sinistra.
"Nice socks, Potter," Moody growled as Harry and Teddie passed, his magical eye staring through Harry's robes.
"Oh - yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for me," said Harry, grinning.
Teddie smiled before she met Moody's gaze. She looked away as she and Harry moved on.
"You okay?" Harry asked.
Teddie shook her head. "It's just... I don't like him," she admitted. "I get this weird feeling from him, like, he's not all what he seems to be. The only other person that I had that feeling around was Professor Quirrel."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I've been meaning to ask," he said. "What happened when he tried to cast the Imperios Curse on you? Everyone was talking about it, they still do, sometimes."
"I don't know what to tell you, Harry," said Teddie. "I don't even know what happened that day."
"But, it's not the only time it's happened, has it?" Harry asked. "It happened last year, too, in the Shrieking Shack."
Teddie nodded.
"Hermione seems to think you have special abilities outside of your magical ones," said Harry. "She did some research in the library, but there wasn't much she could find."
Teddie looked alarmed but hid it before Harry could notice. "Could you tell Hermione that I don't appreciate the thought of her researching me?" she asked.
"I'm sure she was going to tell you if she found anything."
"I know. But, I don't like it," said Teddie.
Harry nodded. "Alright. I'll let her know," he said.
Teddie forced a smile and nodded. The last few notes of the Weird Sisters song was coming to an end, and another was starting.
Harry stepped away from Teddie. "Can we sit down?" he asked.
"Sure," Teddie said. She followed him through the crowd of students and over to where Ronald Weasley was sitting. He hadn't managed to get a date for this evening and was merely sitting alone, glaring at Hermione Granger as she danced nearby with Krum.
"How's it going?" Harry asked Ron, sitting down and opening a bottle of butterbeer.
Ron merely grunted.
Minutes after Teddie sat down, she was asked to dance by a boy from Durmstrang.
"Do you mind, Harry?" Teddie asked.
Harry looked between the two. "No, go right ahead," he said.
Teddie took the boys offered hand and allowed him to lead her out onto the dancefloor. She smiled up at him as he placed his hand on her waist, and clasped the other around her own, before leading her into a circle.
"I'm Roman," the boy said.
"Teddie."
The boy smiled and twirled Teddie out before pulling her back in.
Teddie laughed.
After the third dance, Teddie and Roman were interrupted by Teddie's friends. He bid her a goodbye with a kiss to the hand and left her alone, disappearing into the crowd of students.
"You look flushed," said Daphne, handing Teddie a bottle of butterbeer. "Shall we get some air?"
Teddie nodded.
~X~
At midnight the Weird Sisters played their last song and trudged off the stage. Those who were still listening gave them a last, loud round of applause and then started to make their way into the entrance hall.
"I wish it didn't have to end," said Astoria. "This has been the most fun we've had at Hogwarts, and it's only my second year!"
Teddie smiled and wrapped an arm around Mason's shoulders. His eyes dropped and he tried to bite back a yawn as he rested his head against Teddie's waist.
"We can have more fun tomorrow," said Daphne. "We still got a week before school starts again, and it's Mason's birthday next week, too."
Astoria grinned and turned expectedly to her best friend. "Oh, yeah!" she said. "I can't wait to give my you presents. You're going to love it."
Mason smiled and then looked up at his sister. "Do you think Professor Dumbledore would let us go see Mum and Dad tomorrow?" he asked. "This is the first year that we haven't seen them over Christmas. I feel guilty."
"I don't know," said Teddie. "But we can ask. Meet me after breakfast, we'll go see him together."
Mason nodded and reached up to hug Teddie. "I'm going to go to bed now," he said, unable to stifle a second yawn. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Teddie replied, hugging him tightly.
Teddie watched as Astoria and Mason headed up the marble staircase and disappeared at the top.
"Well, tonight was fun," said Daphne. "We made a few new friends. Roman was cute, though, don't you think?" She nudged Teddie.
Teddie rolled her eyes. "Sure," she agreed.
"Why don't you ask him to Hogsmeade next trip?" Daphne asked.
Blaise felt Theo bristle beside him and half-glanced at his best mate.
"Hmm, I don't know," said Teddie. "I'm not interested in a boyfriend, right now."
"I didn't say anything about a boyfriend," said Daphne. "It's just one date."
Teddie merely shook her head. "Thanks for the suggestion, Daph, but I think I'll pass right now," she said.
"Alright," said Daphne. "But, when this year is over and he offers to stay in touch, and you say no, I'm disowning you as my friend."
"Noted," said Teddie. "Can we go now?"
Daphne led the way down into the dungeons. Blaise fell into step beside her, leaving Teddie and Theo to walk together. Turning to her best friend, Teddie slipped her arm through Theo's and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Did you have fun?" Theo asked.
"It wasn't so bad," said Teddie. "I missed you, though."
Theo looked down and smiled. "I missed you, too," he said. "Maybe next time, we can go together?"
"Sounds like a plan," said Teddie, nuzzling her head into his side and wrapping her arms around his middle, as he slipped his around her shoulders.