Chapter 33
"Miss Lestrange!" snapped McGonagall. "Will you pay attention?"
Calypso looked at the guinea pig she had just transfigured from a guinea fowl. "Professor, I've finished"
McGonagall looked surprised, "Oh, well put it up here in the cage then."
After everyone had copied down their homework, ("Describe, with examples, how Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches"), locked away their guinea pigs, and settled down, McGonagall clapped her hands. "Everyone to Professor Snape now, he has something to say to you all"
When the bell had rang, everyone filed out of the classroom to Professor Snape's dungeon classroom.
"Alright, everyone settles down. The Yule Ball is approaching — a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish-"
Draco snickered and Snape sneered at him before continuing.
"Dress robes will be worn, and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then —" Professor Snape stared deliberately around the class. "The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to — er — let our hair down," he said, in a disapproving voice.
Draco snickered some more before Snape told him off verbally. "Draco, if you do not be silent and listen, I will put you in detention"
"Yes sir"
Professor Snape ignored him and continued. "But that does NOT mean, that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Slytherin student embarrasses the house in any way."
Leave it to Professor Snape to care more about the house's reputation than the school's.
Then the bell ran again symbolizing the end of break and all the students filed out of the classroom once more. Some grumbling about a wasted break and some whispering excitedly. " , stay behind"
Cassius looked at them, confused, before walking back into the classroom.
A minute later, he came back out.
"What did he want?"
"The champions need partners." he sighed, "Do I have to ask Selena or will she assume we're going together?"
Calypso rolled her eyes, "Obviously ask her."
"Ask me what?"
Selena had arrived.
Calypso gave Cassius a pointed look before dragging Daphne away and heading down the corridor.
"Oh wait- nevermind Adrian's that way" muttered Calypso before pulling Daphne the other way. "Wonder why he looks so happy?"
"Who cares, and who're you going to go with then?"
Calypso shrugged, "Idk, who are you going with?"
"No one"
Calypso stared at her, "You're sure?"
"Yes," said Daphne stubbornly.
"So...if say, Theo, was to ask you, you would refuse?"
Daphne crossed her arms, "It's time for our Ancient Runes, come on"
"Seriously?"
"Yup, we don't want Babbling to get mad do we?"
After two gruesome hours of translating runes and their meanings, the bell rang and everyone headed to the Great Hall for lunch.
"Oh, we have chicken stroganoff and spaghetti."
"Fun" muttered Daphne as she picked up some of the mushrooms with a napkin. "Astoria want them?"
Astoria made a face at her, "You're ruining my mood, Daphne!"
"Oh? What's got you more grumpy than usual?"
"I was happy until you came along!"
Daphne grinned, "Actually, you came along later"
"Humph!" Astoria crossed her arms and turned to her friends.
Daphne reached across the table and patted Astoria on the head with her napkin.
"Hey!" Astoria shrieked as she attempted to wipe off the creamy sauce before throwing a piece of garlic from the spaghetti at Daphne. "You started it"
Calypso grabbed Daphne's hand she made to throw something else at Astoria. "Snape" Calypso hissed.
Daphne looked around before pretending to look innocent. "What's got Astoria so happy anyway?"
Calypso shrugged, "Astoria! Daphne wants to know why your so happy today?"
Astoria beamed, "Someone asked me to the Yule Ball and I wouldn't be able to go otherwise but now I can!"
"Oh who?"
Daphne rolled her eyes, "Isn't it obvious?"
Calypso stared at Daphne, "What?"
"Draco" Daphne hissed, pointing at Draco who kept glancing at Astoria.
Calypso giggled, "Oh I don't know. I think Draco is expecting someone to ask him"
Draco crossed his arms, "I heard that!"
" , chew with your mouth closed"
Draco glared at Professor Snape and swallowed his food. "Sorry Professor"
After dessert was served (vanilla gelato) the Slytherin fourth years all headed down on the grounds for Care of Magical Creatures.
Luckily, the half-breed had given up on handling the skrewts and they spent most of the class relaxing in the shade of his hut, picking out fresh food for the skrewts.
"So do you think Astoria is going with Draco then?" Daphne asked as she threw a dragon liver into the bucket in front of them.
Calypso shrugged, "Probably. Astoria's had a crush on him forever."
Daphne crossed her arms and didn't pursue the subject anymore.
The last week of the term became increasingly boisterous as it progressed. Rumors about the Yule Ball were flying everywhere, though Calypso didn't believe half of them — for instance, that Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta. It seemed to be fact, however, that he had booked the Weird Sisters. Calypso wasn't a big fan of them, they were too screechy in her opinion, so Narcissa never played their music, instead opting for Celestia Warbeck's songs.
Some of the teachers, like little Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach them much when their minds were so clearly elsewhere; he allowed them 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 — as Binns hadn't let his death stand in the way of continuing to teach, they supposed a small thing like Christmas wasn't going to put him off.
It was amazing how he could make even bloody and vicious goblin riots sound as boring as Draco's broomstick rants.
Blaise had nervously asked her out right before Transfiguration though, but she had been so surprised, she had said no before she had even considered it causing him to grumble and stalk away.
Professors McGonagall and Moody kept them 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 Potter for his own.
But that didn't mean he wasn't fun though, he spent most of their class teaching them how to make explosions of different colors to represent the different antidotes.
"Have you got a partner yet then?" Warrington asked.
Calypso shook her head, "Nope. I don't suppose it matters though does it?"
He shrugged, "Well, seeing as you haven't, do you want to go with me- just as friends I mean?"
Calypso stared at him. "But aren't you going with Selena?"
"No...Adrian asked her out and she said yes"
"WHAT, SHE SAID YES TO ADRIAN?!"
Cassius glared at her, "Announce it to the whole world will you?"
"Sorry! But I can't believe Adrian, he's-"
"Okay okay." Cassius hissed. "So will you go with me?"
Calypso smiled "Of course, I would love to go with you just as friends"
"Just as friends...yeah, okay. What are you wearing?"
"Oh! I have a mint dress, I'll wear that"
"Okay, see you later?"
"Alright"
Christmas and the Yule Ball were steadily approaching and soon, Everlasting icicles had been attached to the banisters of the marble staircase; the usual twelve Christmas trees in the Great Hall were bedecked with everything from luminous holly berries to real, hooting, golden owls, and the suits of armor had all been bewitched to sing carols whenever anyone passed them. It was quite something to hear "O Come, All Ye Faithful" sung by an empty helmet that only knew half the words. Several times, Filch the caretaker had to extract Peeves from inside the armor, where he had taken to hiding, filling in the gaps in the songs with lyrics of his invention, all of which were very rude.
The Hogwarts staff had taken it upon themselves to impress Beauxbatons and Durmstrange but Fleur certainly didn't like the decorations much. She had complained about the decorations all the way to dinner to Celestia and Calypso when that Weasley kid walked up to her.
"Oi Fleur! WILL YOU GO TO THE BALL WITH ME?"
Fleur stared at him like he was a sea slug. "I-" but she didn't even have time to say yes or no before he ran away.
Celestia laughed, "Zat eez Ronald We'zerbey"
"Oh, ee would've said 'es 'ou know."
Calypso stared at Fleur, "You would've?!":
Celestia giggled, "She like red 'air people"
"Oh- you, you can ask one of his brothers then. They're much kinder than- than him" Calypso said through a fit of giggles.
Fleur stared at her hauntingly before laughing as well. "Oh- 'es alright. Maybe I will ask z'em. Wat eez z'ere names?"
"Well, Lucius said they have seven children, the older three are out of school already."
"Oh, well-"
"Will you go to the ball with me?"
The Ravenclaw captain, Roger Davies, had come to Fleur, now looking slightly embarrassed as he glanced at Celestia and Calypso.
Fleur glanced at him, "Oh fine. 'Es ee will"
Davies grinned like Christmas had come early. "Wait- oh merlin, she said yes!"
A group of boys who were fanned out behind him started cheering and congratulating him, "Wow- good job man" "never would have expected that" "You've got to be the luckiest person on the planet"
Fleur sniffed and walked into the Great Hall. "Boys…."
Calypso looked at Fleur's retreating back before staring at Celestia. "Who're you going with?"
"Z'eo"
Calypso grimaced, she could already hear Daphne's complaints. "Congratulations then. See you later"
After they had finished dinner and walked out of the Great Hall, she finally told Daphne who Theo was going with. As predicted, Daphne was not happy.
"Ugh. What does he see in her anyway?!" she demanded.
Calypso shrugged, "he's very pretty I guess"
With a loud 'humph', Daphne stomped away.
The next morning, Calypso awoke to a great stack of presents on her bedside. A firebolt from her father, a large pack of books from Narcissa and her mum, various candies from her friends, a fake snake that jumped out of its box every time someone opened it (Thanks a lot Draco), a muggle thing that she had no clue how to use from Theo, and a really pretty jewelry box Fleur had bought in France.
After everyone had woken up and unwrapped their presents, Calypso had a snowball fight with Celestia, Theo, Fleur, Altaira, Daphne, Helena, Pansy, Leta, Draco, and, Astoria and her friends.
At five o'clock, everyone went back up to get ready for the Yule Ball at 8.
Daphne was wearing a lavender dress with a three-tiered skirt and a silver embroidered top.
"Who are you going with then?"
Daphne sniffed, "Blaise. The day you rejected him, he asked me and I said yes. It was him or Goyle" Daphne added.
Calypso laughed, "I see…"
"Oh shut up" Daphne grumbled, "And help me curl the back"
Calypso rolled her eyes and tapped Daphne's chocolate brown hair with her wand, curling it into waves. "Done, now do mine"
"Oh, that's so pretty!" Altaira squealed in her sunflower yellow dress. "What spell is that?"
"Crinus Muto" Daphne answered, leaning close to the mirror to apply eyeshadow. "Does this look fine?"
Calypso nodded and Daphne smiled, leaning in again to do her other eye.
"Why don't you just use magic to do it?" Pansy asked.
"Because it'll last longer if I do it the muggle way" Daphne sighed, now blending the light color into the edges with a royal purple.
Calypso shrugged, "I used magic and it's not half as bad."
At eight o'clock, they all went down the steps to the common room. "Oh my god" Calypso whispered as she grabbed the railing. "I swear, my shoes are trying to murder me"
Daphne laughed, "Your fault. You have at least ten pairs of shoes that would match with your dress and you chose those"
Calypso didn't even bother responding, she knew deep down that Daphne was right but she was never going to admit that.
At the foot of the stairs, she took Warrington's arm and they followed the rest of the Slytherins into the Great Hall. Indeed, Astoria was going with Draco and she beamed at Calypso as they passed.
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.
"Let's find somewhere to sit then?"
Cassius nodded and led her to where Draco, Daphne, Theo, and a few other Slytherins Calypso didn't recognize were sitting.
"Hello"
Celestia waved at her, "'ou look very pretty"
"You too" and indeed Celestia did in her robes of pale rose pink with gold accents. She was matching with Theo who wearing grey dress robes and a pale pink tie. "You look very nice Theo"
He glared at her, "Thank you?"
Just then, the Weird Sisters started playing a slow funeral march song. Warrington took her hand, "Come on"
Calypso groaned and stood up, "Fine, come on"
They walked on to the brightly lit dance floor. Calypso put her hands on Cassius' waist and shoulder before slowly revolving around the dance floor, trying not to look too awkward and smiling. Soon, many others came onto the dance floor, drawing the attention off the champions.
Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame Maxime and Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg.
After the final quavering note, the Weird Sisters began a new, faster song.
Calypso laughed and brushed her hair out of her face as they danced and twirled.
After about three different songs, she saw Daphne's worried face and led Warrington away from the dance floor. "I'm going to find Daphne, wait here alright?"
He nodded. "Sure"
Calypso followed Daphne out of earshot. "What's wrong?"
"You-Know-Who's back. I'm sure of it."
"What?"
"I've just overheard Professor Snape and Karkaroff talking about their mark getting darker. First the world cup and now this… Where's Astoria gone? I swear Draco-"
"She'll be fine" whispered Calypso. "And the Dark Lord won't attack the school now, he'll need to get stronger first."
"How do you know that?"
"It's just a feeling. And don't worry about Astoria. Even if he comes, she'll be safe if she just sticks with Draco. Besides, the Dark Lord won't attack whilst Dumbledore is here."
"Fine...come on, dinner is starting"
Calypso nodded and headed back to where everyone was eating. "How do we order?"
Theo pointed to the small menu on the table. "Talk to the plate"
She glanced around to make sure he wasn't crazy before speaking to the plate. "Mixed lettuce salad with balsamic dressing."
A salad of lettuce, nuts, avocado, olives, and fruit appeared on the plate.
When the Weird Sisters finished playing at midnight, everyone gave them a last, loud round of applause and started to wend their way into the entrance hall.
The next morning, Draco was practically jumping up and down as he gave Calypso a folded newspaper. "Look! I had an interview with Skeeter last night-"
DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE
-By Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet Reporter-
Albus Dumbledore, the eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. In September of this year, he hired Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy ex-Auror, to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, a decision that caused many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well-known habit of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence. Mad-Eye Moody, however, looks responsible and kindly when set beside the part-human Dumbledore employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures.
Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the school ever since a job secured for him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates. An alarmingly large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures. While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons that many admit to being "very frightening."
"I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm," says Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year student. "We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything."
Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however. In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted breeding creatures he has dubbed "Blast-Ended Skrewts," highly dangerous crosses between manticores and fire-crabs.
The creation of new breeds of magical creatures is, of course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid, however, considers himself to be above such petty restrictions.
"I was just having some fun," he says, before hastily changing the subject. As if this were not enough, the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not — as he has always pretended — a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring amongst themselves during the last century. The handful that remained joined the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and were responsible for some of the worst mass Muggle killings of his reign of terror.
While many of the giants who served He-WhoMust-Not-Be-Named were killed by Aurors working against the Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign mountain ranges.
If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are any guide, however, Fridwulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature. In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have developed a close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power — thereby driving Hagrid's mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters, into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of the unpleasant truth about his large friend — but Albus Dumbledore surely must ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about the dangers of associating with part-giants.
"So that's where they went last night" Daphne grumbled, "What if they had met a death eater or-"
"I told you, as long as she's with Draco, Astoria will be fine. Come on now, we're gonna be late for classes."
There was a Hogsmeade visit halfway through January and she had made plans to go with Warrington, Theo, and Daphne since Celestia was staying back to help Fleur with the egg.
"Can we go inside somewhere?"
"Yeah the three broomsticks are just around the corner" Theo pointed down the High Street to the little pub.
"There's Rita Skeeter" Daphne whispered, pointing at a woman in banana yellow robes and two-inch-long pink nails. She was talking to Potter and Granger animatedly about something.
"Ah- more Hogwarts students," she said, suddenly looking up. "And the champion nonetheless. Come join us, I insist!"
Cassius shrugged and sat down at the table next to Potter, Granger, and Weasley. "I'm sure you all saw my recent piece- would you mind giving us your opinion on it?"
Calypso shrugged, "Sure I guess. Hagrid's a horrible professor and we've never learned anything from him"
Granger and the Potter glared at him as Rita Skeeter nodded. "Yes, yes. How about Harry Potter? Is he a good student?"
Granger stood up and slammed her butterbeer on the table, "We're leaving, come on Harry, Ron"
Rita ignored them and continued. "You're all classmates with them yes?"
"He's not"
She looked at Warrington, "Ah yes, the champion. Do you think Harry is a threat to a Hogwarts wins? How do you feel about your chances, especially since he's currently leading in points right now?"
"Fleur is actually"
"Oh...yes the girl. You're friends with her yes?"
Calypso shrugged, "I guess"
"Mmm. And you're her boyfriend?"
Theo glared at Rita, "No."
"No, but you were at the Yule Ball together?"
"No, we weren't"
"He was with Celestia" Daphne sneered.
"Hmm." The quote was floating in front of Rita Skeeter, scribbling away.
Theo glared at the parchment-like it owed him something. Or like it had his father's face on it. "Incendio!"
Rita shrieked, "What are you doing?!"
"Bye" Theo stood up, "Come, we're leaving"
Calypso stared at him before nodding to Warrington and Daphne and followed him out of the shop.
Daphne sneered at Theo, "Why'd you have to set it on fire? Keep your temper will you?"
"I think I acted pretty accordingly and you would too if you had seen what she had written"
"What did she write?"
"A bunch of fucking lies."
"Like…"
"Like I was dating Fleur and Calypso was Warrington's girlfriend and how we were all jealous of Potter's success."
"Yeah, she'll run out of material soon. I'm going back to the castle."
Daphne nodded, "Come on. It's snowing outside"
When they had gotten back to the castle, they could just barely see Fleur shivering with her hair wet at the edge of the lake. "Oh wait, Cassius, have you figured out the egg clue?"
He shrugged, "The merpeople have taken something, and I have an hour to find it"
"Oh, that's easy. Just use a bubblehead charm to breathe underwater then" answered Theo quickly. "That should work…"
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too...but it can't be that easy right?"
"No, I suppose not. What is it that they'll take though?"
Warrington turned pink, "A human I suppose. Something that I'll miss if it's gone"
Theo stared at Cassius for a moment before looking away. With those bright blue eyes of his, it could've been mistaken for moody's fake one.
