Disclaimer: (Clears throat and taps at microphone) I, Madam Arianna, do
not own anything in the Potterverse.although I would not complain if I did.
The plot is mine and a couple of the new characters. All others belong to
You Know Who.
~Chapter 15~
The rest of the week was relatively calm and somewhat relaxed, much to everyone's relief. Since there had been no classes, Rona and Harry had slept in as often as possible and passed the evenings by playing wizard's chess while Hermione read every book that she could get her hands on.
Snape, McGonagall, Angeline, and Flitwick had spent their time adding safety charms to the area surrounding the school. After Snape used the Marauder's Map, tensions had calmed drastically among the students and the faculty. Dumbledore had arrived back safely as planned. After McGonagall briefed him on the weekend's fiasco, Dumbledore held a faculty meeting. All Hogsmeade weekends for the next term were cancelled, and each professor had to inventory all magical valuables and supplies throughout the castle. It only took two full days, which gave everyone one day off to themselves before the Yule Ball.
A thick layer of snow was still spread across the ground, and Harry and Ron were getting restless by Saturday. They decided to visit with Hagrid after lunch to kill some time before the ball.
As they approached the hut, they heard Hagrid humming loudly inside. They laughed and knocked on the door.
Hagrid opened the door and loomed over them. "Oh! C'mon in, boys. Where's Hermione?"
"Dunno. All the girls disappeared after lunch. I think she said something about going to see Ms. Angeline." Ron plopped down on a chair and Fang laid his head on Ron's lap and licked his hand excitedly.
"She's taken quite a liken' ter the professor, hasn't she?"
"Suppose so. She said it was nice havin' a woman to talk to for a change."
Hagrid laughed as he handed Ron and Harry each a cup of tea. "So, er, Harry, are you takin' anyone tonight?"
"No." Harry wanted more than anything to ask Cho, but he had decided to settle for asking her to dance once or twice if her date didn't mind. "What about you, Hagrid? Is Madam Maxime coming tonight?"
Hagrid looked a bit embarrassed. "Now why is she the first person that came to your mind? We're just friends.you know that."
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes and smiled broadly as Hagrid placed another log in the fireplace. "But if you must know," he added with his back turned, "she is cumin' and she's brining one of her old students with her."
Ron and Harry spent an hour visiting with Hagrid and then ventured back up to the school for mail call. After checking to see if Lupin or Sirius had written back after Harry's most recent letter, and finding no return, they headed up to the tower to kill a little more time before getting ready. As they traveled up the stairs, several seventh year students walked hurriedly by whispering excitedly.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
A/N: Yay! Another chapter typed and uploaded.::Does victory dance around the laptop:: Alas, this chapter is a wee bit short, but as usual, I will try to make up for it in the next chapter.
Chapter 16: Night of the Yule Ball
~Chapter 15~
The rest of the week was relatively calm and somewhat relaxed, much to everyone's relief. Since there had been no classes, Rona and Harry had slept in as often as possible and passed the evenings by playing wizard's chess while Hermione read every book that she could get her hands on.
Snape, McGonagall, Angeline, and Flitwick had spent their time adding safety charms to the area surrounding the school. After Snape used the Marauder's Map, tensions had calmed drastically among the students and the faculty. Dumbledore had arrived back safely as planned. After McGonagall briefed him on the weekend's fiasco, Dumbledore held a faculty meeting. All Hogsmeade weekends for the next term were cancelled, and each professor had to inventory all magical valuables and supplies throughout the castle. It only took two full days, which gave everyone one day off to themselves before the Yule Ball.
A thick layer of snow was still spread across the ground, and Harry and Ron were getting restless by Saturday. They decided to visit with Hagrid after lunch to kill some time before the ball.
As they approached the hut, they heard Hagrid humming loudly inside. They laughed and knocked on the door.
Hagrid opened the door and loomed over them. "Oh! C'mon in, boys. Where's Hermione?"
"Dunno. All the girls disappeared after lunch. I think she said something about going to see Ms. Angeline." Ron plopped down on a chair and Fang laid his head on Ron's lap and licked his hand excitedly.
"She's taken quite a liken' ter the professor, hasn't she?"
"Suppose so. She said it was nice havin' a woman to talk to for a change."
Hagrid laughed as he handed Ron and Harry each a cup of tea. "So, er, Harry, are you takin' anyone tonight?"
"No." Harry wanted more than anything to ask Cho, but he had decided to settle for asking her to dance once or twice if her date didn't mind. "What about you, Hagrid? Is Madam Maxime coming tonight?"
Hagrid looked a bit embarrassed. "Now why is she the first person that came to your mind? We're just friends.you know that."
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes and smiled broadly as Hagrid placed another log in the fireplace. "But if you must know," he added with his back turned, "she is cumin' and she's brining one of her old students with her."
Ron and Harry spent an hour visiting with Hagrid and then ventured back up to the school for mail call. After checking to see if Lupin or Sirius had written back after Harry's most recent letter, and finding no return, they headed up to the tower to kill a little more time before getting ready. As they traveled up the stairs, several seventh year students walked hurriedly by whispering excitedly.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
A/N: Yay! Another chapter typed and uploaded.::Does victory dance around the laptop:: Alas, this chapter is a wee bit short, but as usual, I will try to make up for it in the next chapter.
Chapter 16: Night of the Yule Ball