Dudley, Dean, Ron, Neville and Seamus got changed into their dress robes in their dormitory.
"Not bad, really," Ron said, looking at himself in the mirror. "Actually, I've got to admit, mum did pretty well."
"Wish Lockhart did pretty well," Dudley muttered as he put the beret on. He looked in the mirror and sighed. Though the robes were well-made, expensive and fitted well, he couldn't escape the fact they were periwinkle in color. The beret complete with peacock-feather did not favors either.
"They're not that bad, mate," Dean said, but was trying to keep a straight face.
"Yeah, if they were a different color, weren't open at the chest, didn't have velvet trimmings and came without the matching hat they'd be fine," Ron said with a smirk.
"At least they're expensive," Dudley said, feeling the silk material with a finger. "At least even though I look a prat. I look a rich prat."
"Shall we go?" Dean, said, lacing up the front of his robes. He looked very handsome in dark blue.
The common room looked very strange indeed, with the students wearing robes of different colors rather than black. Luna, Ginny, Lavender and Parvati were all waiting for them. Ron was to collect Cho from the Ravenclaw common room.
"Hello, Dudley—nice beret. Is that a Hootingjay feather?" Luna said, brightly. She looked very pretty indeed. Ginny had helped her select robes from a catalogue to be delivered and had picked out silk robes of scarlet with a matching flower behind one ear.
"Thanks, you look nice," Dudley said, a little awkwardly. Neville had already taken Lavender's arm, so, following his lead, Dudley offered his arm to Luna who took it with a smile.
Ginny was wearing silver and looked very pretty also. She was going to meet Terry Boot from Ravenclaw later. "Ron, you scrub up well!" she said, in genuine surprise.
"I'll see you down there, I'm supposed to meet Cho," Ron said. "Anyone seen Hermione?"
Dudley glanced around, he hadn't noticed that Hermione hadn't been there.
"She's already left," Ginny said. "Wait until you see her! She looks hot!"
Ron looked shocked at the thought that his bookish friend could ever look hot. And even more shocked at his little sister using the word hot.
"Ronniekins! I wish mum was here to see you," Fred said, jovially.
"She's be so proud," George said, fluttering his eyes. "Our little Ronniekins has all grown up!" he said in an uncanny impression of Molly Weasley.
"Come here, let me get that spot of dirt from your nose!" Fred said, leaning forward.
"Gerrof!" Ron yelled, scrambling out of the way. He subconsciously wiped his nose.
"There isn't any dirt," Ginny said, soothingly. "You look great…" then, as if realizing she had been praising Ron too much, added, "Surprisingly."
"Thanks," Ron said, looking pleased. "Right well … can't keep Cho waiting, I'll see you all later?"
After saying goodbye to Ron, Luna led the way towards the portrait too. "We need to go too, remember, the champions perform the first dance."
Dudley swore quietly. "I'd forgotten about that," he muttered.
George snickered. "Be sure to not embarrass yourself out there, Dud,"
"Yeah," said Fred. "Remember, only the entire school, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are watching."
"Thanks," Dudley said, darkly.
He and Luna walked in silence. Though he was friends with Luna and had spoke to her a lot, this felt different because it was an actual date, so he was struggling to think of what to say. Shortly behind them, Dean was completely at ease talking to Parvati, complimenting her on her dress robes and asking where she bought them.
Dudley opened his mouth, about to say the same to Luna when somebody called his name.
"Dudley! You look very dashing!" It was Lockhart, he was stood, holding court with a very pretty witch by his side. Dudley didn't recognize her, but she must have been somebody famous for she was signing autographs. Lockhart too had his quill out and was signing things, even if they weren't offered to him—he just grabbed the parchment offered to his date and scrawled his signature on it too.
"I'll be back in a minute," he said to his date who was a tall, athletic looking witch with long black hair.
"Looking great, Dudley!" Lockhart was wearing similar robes to Dudley, except his were a little more expensive and a little more fine, featuring solid gold buttons. The peacock feather on his beret was a little longer too.
"And … Miss Lovegood! Dudley didn't tell me you were his date. You look lovely." He bent down to kiss her hand.
"Thanks, Professor. I say, is that Mako Suzuki of the Tutshill Tornadoes?" she said, leaning over to stare at Lockhart's date.
"One and the same," Lockhart said, pleased. "I know many of the top quidditch players—part and parcel of being a celebrity is rubbing shoulders with all the right people! Met her when she was a guest on The Lockhart Hour—which, incidentally is the Wizarding Wireless Network's most popular show."
After signing her last autograph, Mako Suzuki came over. She was an inch taller than Lockhart himself was and very good looking with a sharp, commanding face. "Gilderoy, we need to go and get seats," she said.
"Ah, Mako, let me introduce you, this is Dudley—I mentioned him, remember—Luna, and here are Dean and Parvati!"
Dudley shook hands with Mako Suzuki. She had an exceptionally strong grip.
"We need to go," Mako said again. "Or we're going to be late. And don't drink too much."
"I never do," Lockhart protested as she led him forcibly away.
"Lockhart has his work cut out with her," Dean said, snickering.
"Who is she?" Dudley asked in a low voice as Lockhart left.
"Mako Suzuki. Chaser for the Tornadoes," Luna said. "Joined them two years ago—best chaser in the league."
"Cool," said Dudley, impressed that Lockhart had snagged himself such a date.
"Though, Daddy says the Tornadoes only won the league because of match-fixing. They bribed the Bats' goalie to let in five goals in the final match of the season," Luna said.
Dudley hoped that Luna was going to keep that theory to herself if they ended up sitting next to Lockhart and Suzuki.
The entrance hall was packed with students too, 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.
There was an air of excitement as they all waited to be allowed in.
Luna suddenly gasped and pointed as Viktor Krum arrived with a girl on his arm. Dudley felt his jaw drop open. It was Hermione.