By Ron Potter
Chapter 8: The Yule Ball
I woke up especially early Friday morning so I can meet Percy as he comes in. I dropped my first years off with Padma and Cho to watch. Except Cho wasn't around much since Prince Charming, Cedric Diggory, asked her to the ball. So it was just Padma watching the first years.
I ran down the grand Staircase to greet Percy as he came in. Unfortunately Percy was there but couldn't be bothered. Turns out his boss, Mr. Crouch went missing and he has to deal with all the publicity and the work he left. The only time I saw him was at lunch and dinner and eventually the Yule Ball.
The Yule Ball wasn't going to start for another two weeks but everyday the Ravenclaws excitedly awaited the Yule Ball. The first, second, and third years were being around the older kids a lot looking cute and charming. I'd swear one of Roger's first year boys came up flirting with me. Cho says Harry Potter tried to snag a date with her and so did a ton of other Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.
Saturday night meant astronomy. I could of stayed in Hogsmeade with Padma, Parvati, and the whole gang but no Professor Sinistra has to make us have class at 11:00 P.M. Roger and I walked together to the astronomy lab where Sinistra would be teaching us tonight. She stood before a large telescope in front of the class.
"We'll be continuing our discussions on Mars," Sinistra said. "We'll be seeing Mars in astrology and figure out our true selves. I believe Mr. Davies here is a Cancer."
"That's right," Roger said.
"Please open your notebooks to a clean page and copy down everything I say," Sinistra continued. "Mars in Astrological Signs…Mars in Cancer. This position inclines toward passive-aggressiveness. These people seem to resist change and to shy away from direct confrontations. They need to feel secure before they act. As a result, they can appear rather slow at times. Their motto is "The best offence is defense". They may appear weak to some, but they can be very strong. Their strength lies in their tenaciousness. With reassurance and confidence, these natives are protective, helpful, and dependable in the long haul. They prefer to handle situations peacefully and humanely. Any questions?" No one raised his or her hands. "Good. You each have a astrological chart at the top it should say 'Mars in Signs'. You will each take a look in the telescope and decide which sign Mars is in tonight, December 11. And remember Mars changes from sign to sign approximately every 2 months except Mars in Aries, which stays for5 months."
I stepped forward to the telescope. I placed my notebook down beside the telescope as I looked in. I saw the bright red planet of Mars but was in a perfect line with Neptune and the Sun. That wasn't Mars in Cancer. That was Mars in Aries.
"Ummm…it's Mars in Aries," I said. "Neptune, Mars, and the Sun are in line."
"No it's not!" Sinistra snapped. "I just checked and it's Mars in Cancer. That is what everyone will put down not Mars in Aries you silly little prefect. Now after class I want you to meet me down in the library."
After classes I headed won toward the library. Sinistra wasn't there yet but Madam Pince was there and waiting for me. We both went back in her office.
"Have you figured out your clue?" Madam Pince asked.
"Yeah…it's mermaids…they've taken something of mine down to Squid Lake," I said.
"Have you decided how?" Madam Pince asked.
"Not yet," I replied.
"Try being an animagus dolphin," Madam Pince suggested. "It's not hard at all. Ask Professor McGonnagall for permission to go into the restricted section for advanced transfiguration."
I waved out my Guide to Advanced Transfiguration in her face showing her I was in the advanced transfiguration class but she seemed to ignore me. So I walked out looking for Sinistra who had still not arrived yet. So I headed back to my dormitory to try on new dresses.
Cho tried on her brand new baby blue sparkling dress robe. She did a few turns as if she was a model. "Got any others?" I asked. Then she got on another silvery dress robe. "What about that purple one?" I asked. She went into her closet and picked out a purple dress with blue high heals. "That's perfect!" I exclaimed.
"Choose which one of mine you want," Cho said. "Perhaps red it matches your date's hair."
"Of course not," I said picking up the silver one Cho tried on. "This one is great! Let's go to Hogsmeade tomorrow for some more dresses."
"Wait!" Cho exclaimed. "I have one just your size." Cho went looking through her closet taking out a baby blue dress with silver earrings.
"This is fabulous!" I exclaimed taking the dress. "I got the perfect silver bracelet to match it!"
*********Yule Ball night and from Moody's POV**********
I had asked Professor Sinistra as my date to dance. She luckily said yes of course I had to tell her we'd dance off together to meet for our plans. Potter had come with one of those Patil girls. Clearwater had come with that perfect Percy Weasley. Krum came with that mudblood Granger. Everything was set except Percy wasn't supposed to take Penelope; Carl Malfoy was to take her. I guess we can settle for it.
Just as Potter and Patil went up to the dance floor, Sinistra and I danced our way out of the Great Hall. Along the way we ran into a white ferret that was really Lucius Malfoy and a rabbit that was really Carl Malfoy, Lucius' brother. I really wasn't fond of them since they denied ever being with the dark lord but we needed them to bring Voldemort back. I swear I saw Potter and Weasley run out of the Great Hall but they ran behind Hagrid passing Snape and Karkaroff who were coming for us.
We gathered in my dimly lit classroom with the door firmly locked. I could now come out of my polyjuice potion and so could Sinistra or should I saw Miss Nakara Lestrange. We all gathered closely. Snape and Karkaroff looked shocked at both of us and ran to the door but Lucius caught up with them.
"Having a little party here son?" Dad or Mr. Crouch asked cruelly but stopped dead when he saw Miss Lestrange. "I didn't know Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange had a child."
"There's a lot of Lestrange things you don't know or understand," Miss Lestrange laughed.
Dad reached back for his wand but I already disarmed him against the cold wooden door. Nakara nudged me warning me Dumbledore might hear but I put a soundless charm on the room. Dumbledore thinks we at the kitchens offering the house elves pay.
"Take him into the trunk in the 13th lock," I ordered. "I hope you guys remember that polyjuice spell so you can become Snape and Karkaroff."
"I knew you were pure evil," Karkaroff said. "From the minute you crossed the Durmstrang border when you were five. I saw fire and evil within your eyes and I actually hoped one day I would get to teach you. But know you chose the wrong side…the wrong crowd."
"Polyblivious!" Carl Malfoy shouted at Karkaroff. Now Carl Malfoy had Karkaroff's genes in his wand so he can become him with a polyjuice potion spell. "Polyblivious Igor Karkaroff!" This time he pointed it at himself and Carl Malfoy became Igor Karkaroff and stuffed the real Karkaroff in a secret door in my office.
"Polyblivious!" Lucius shouted at Snape and had the same thing as Carl Malfoy. "Polyblivious Severus Snape!" Now Lucius turned into Severus Snape and stuffed Snape into a locked room with the real Karkaroff.
"Let's go over the plan again," I said. "We guide The Potters through the Triwizard tournament and make sure they each touch the cup at the same time. When they'll all be transported directly to Lord Voldemort and Wormtail. James in the audience will then see that his three kids are missing and will go to investigate. He will then transport himself to wherever his kids are sending him straight into our Master's clutches. From there James Potter will find his kids chained up by master's side and they shall have a rematch duel."
