Chapter 19

Christmas was different this year, as for the first time since Percy Potter came to Hogwarts, the Slytherin dorm was not empty for Christmas. Everyone was excited, as the Yule Ball didn't come every year. But the one thing on every Slytherin students mind, is whom was Percy Potter taking to the Yule Ball. Oh how they regretted shunning away the Potter, however good-looking he was, in order to curry favor from Malfoy, whom majority of the Slytherins secretly called Ferret. Of course they would never say it to his face, lest that ferret go crying to his daddy.

Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis were both secretly hoping that Percy asked one of them to the ball, as they were one of the few Slytherins who were 'friendly' with the secluded Potter. As Christmas was round the corner, Daphne made a plan to ask Percy out, since he didn't ask her yet. This was the reason why Daphne Greengrass, without telling her friend Tracy, was awake at the ungodly hour of 5:30 in the morning, during the first day of the Christmas Holidays, waiting for the arrival of one Percy Potter.

Daphne didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later, a certain Hogwarts champion came down from the boys dorm, his faithful companion at his heels. Daphne's stomach clenched. This was it. "Hello Daphne. You're usually not up at this time." Percy said as he noticed her sitting on the sofa. "Hey, I was hoping to catch you before you went outside" Daphne was definitely nervous now. Percy nodded and sat opposite to her "So what did you want to talk to me about?" The moment of truth. She took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would want to go to the ball with me?" She told it all under a single breath, which made her think if he understood what she had asked him.

"I'm sorry Daphne, but I already asked someone else to the ball" Percy sounded apologetic, but all Daphne heard was 'I already asked'. That phrase kept echoing in her mind. "Oh, no problem" she squeaked out "Can you tell me who you are going with?" "I'm sorry, but she asked me not to tell anyone." "Is it –" "it's no one from Slytherin. Bye Daphne" And Percy exited the the common room. Daphne wondered who Percy might go with. This full week, the only girl Daphne saw Percy with was Granger, and that too because she was with Harry Potter.

It was finally Christmas, and at 7:30 in the evening Percy was ready for the ball. He was dressed in a blue tuxedo which he bought from Kingsman, a tailoring shop in London, which cost him quite a few galleons, though it was worth it. He was waiting at the doors of Hogwarts for his date for the evening, the delightful Fleur Delacour. Now, you must be thinking, how did Percy Potter, a fourth year student, manage to get a date with arguably the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts right now. It was quite simple. Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, was quite taken by her, and was desperately trying to gather her attention. Fleur was having a tough time finding someone who was not affected by her charm, and was good looking. Enter Percy Potter. Percy was being ambushed left and right by girls, all asking him out, from both Hogwarts and Beauxbatons. He was finding it quite hard to go with a girl who couldn't stop laughing at him, and all the unnecessary touches was beginning to unnerve him. He then saw Fleur being pestered by Roger Davies. So after the boy decided to leave her alone, Percy went up to her and asked her if she wanted to go to the ball with him. Surprisingly, she agreed.

So here was Percy, waiting at the entrance of Hogwarts, for the beautiful Fleur Delacour. He didn't have to wait long. She came a few minutes later, wearing robes of silver-grey, complementing her physique marvelously. "You look lovely. Are you ready, then?" Percy asked as he took her hand. "You look good as vell, though you are not vearing wizard robes?" "Trust me, in a muggle party, we would be the spotlight". And taking her hand, guided her to the hall, where Professor McGonagall was calling the champions forward. As they reached forward, they saw Cedric and Cho already waiting, beaming at each other. Soon afterwards, Harry came along with Parvati, both of them awkward, followed by Krum and ––

Percy had to rub his eyes. There was Hermione, except she wasn't the Hermione he had ever seen. 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, it was true — but the reduction in the size of her front teeth was more noticeable than ever; Percy couldn't understand how he hadn't spotted it before. "Hi, Harry!" she said. "Hi, Parvati!" she said to them both, before the doors opened. When the doors to the Great Hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing Hermione looks of deepest loathing. Fleur and Percy were also getting their fair share of glares, but they didn't let it bother them. Pansy Parkinson gaped at Hermione as she walked by with Malfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able to find an insult to throw at her.

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. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they 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 was staring at Krum and Hermione with narrow eyes as they drew 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, Percy realized, was not there. The fifth seat at the table was occupied by Percy Weasley.

There was no food as yet on the glittering golden plates, but small menus were lying in front of each of them. Harry picked his up uncertainly and looked around — there were no waiters. Dumbledore, however, looked carefully down at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!" And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too. Percy had tuned out for the most of the conversations happening around him, focusing instead on the delicious steak in front of him. He tuned back when Krum was talking about Drumstrangs to Hermione.

"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? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"

"Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor," said Dumbledore amicably. "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 seen 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." Percy snorted, and Harry did the same as well, though Karakoff did not appreciate the humor.

"Zis is nothing," Fleur said dismissively, looking around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall, replying to Krum. "At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course . . . zey are like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we 'ave choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armor in ze 'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be expelled like zat." She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently. "But Peeves is what makes Hogwarts Hogwarts" Percy replied "sure he is rude, but if he was not here, Hogwarts would be just a regular wizarding school."

"I am curious, 'zo, why you fight the dragon with a trident? Zat was imprezzive magic, where 'zu learn it?" Madame Maxime asked, curiosity dripping in her tone. "Yes, I was wondering about that as well, my boy" Dumbledore added. Percy looked around. The full table was waiting for his answer. "Explaining it is very difficult. Perhaps if I gave an example" Percy said. "Sure, sure" Karakoff said.

"Very well, since the first task was to steal something, this time I shall also steal something, perhaps something from the judges?" Percy started "Let's see, yes, I will attempt to steal your glasses, Professor Dumbledore, your lovely necklace Madame Maxime, and your glasses as well Percy" Madame Maxime scoffed. "Az if you can do that. I accept" Dumbledore and Percy Weasley agreed as well. The whole table was waiting for Percy. "Very well. It was a spell I had created, and-" He was cut off with another scoff from Madame Maxime "You created a spell at zuch a young age? Nonsense, tell the truth." "Fine. Don't believe me. I will mutter the spell under my breath, and if I don't have your necklace in my hand by the end of 5 minutes, then I will personally give you a hundred Galleons."

Percy started muttering under his breath. He knew perfectly well what to do. He knew his performance would attract unwanted attention, so with the help of Salazar, he came up with a cover story. The spell, would be the same which he had used the first time he met Salazar. "Allucinatio" he muttered so softly, even Fleur, who was straining to hear him, missed it. Percy could practically feel the magic emitted, and bent it to his will. To everyone, he was still seated at his chair muttering under his breath, but in reality, he was already in front of Dumbledore, taking his glasses. He took Weasley's as well, and Madame Maxime's necklace. He went back and sat down. At present, the spell was working in such a way they could not suspect anything, even Moody's eye could not catch it.

"Very well, did any of you see me get up and take the items I was supposed to steal just now?" Percy asked. "No mate, you were sitting right there" Cedric said. "This is the beauty of my spell. So powerful, it can decieve even a magical eye! Please call Professor Moody and ask him if he witnessed anything unusual" "That's because nothing unusual happened, boy, accept your loss and pay the amount to Madame Maxime" Karakoff barked, though he quickly kept quite as Moody approached the table. "My dear friend, did you see if Mr. Potter get up from his seat just now?" "No Professor Dumbledore, I'm sure he didn't." "Zat iz becauze zat never happened! My necklace is still around my neck, unless you need glazzez like your brother" Madame Maxime snarked.

But Percy just grinned. "Very well, delere" Percy announced, a spell he actually created with the help of Salazar, to practically delete the effects of a spell. As soon as he said it, Dumbledore's and Percy Weasley's sights became blurry, and Madame Maxime was missing a certain necklace. On Percy's palms were the missing items. The full table was silent. And then the questions started. "What's the spell" "How did you do that?" "Impressive, Mr. Potter" "Ho- How?" "So how did you defeat the Dragon that day?" The last question was from Harry. "Quite simple. I cast the spell, the dragon saw what everyone saw, me weilding a trident. Meanwhile, I simply went and took the egg, and then cast the Conjunctivitis Curse in between it's eyes multiple times, till it was finally knocked out."

The table was silent, with everyone continuing to eat in silence. 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. They picked up their instruments, and Percy got up, and along with Fleur, made his way to the dancefloor.

Percy and Fleur spent the full night on the dancefloor, dancing like they had never done before. Percy had noticed that Harry had stopped dancing after the first song, and went to sit with Ron, who didn't come up to the dancefloor. He saw as Harry, Ron and Hermione fought, Ron and Harry leave the Hall, followed by Madame Maxime and Hagrid. He noticed that the Park twins were now dancing with some Beauxbatons boys, who were delighted to be dancing with the pretty girls.

At the end of the Ball, Percy went to leave Fleur to her carriage. While coming back, Percy crossed paths with Harry and Ron, who were discussing something. "Hey Harry, how was your evening?" Harry grunted. "Did you figure out the egg?" "No, it just wails when I open mine" "Yea, you should submerge your head under water, you'll hear a song. It should work." "What?" "Goodnight Harry"

Percy made his way back to the Slytherin common room, where he saw Daphne tell goodnight to her date for the evening, Blaise Zabini. He followed Blaise, who looked like he was riding a broomstick high in the clouds.