Chapter 23 - The Valentine's Ball

The following week the Valentine's Ball was still the number one topic of conversation during lunch as Barney sat at the Hufflepuff table with his friends.

"Hey Nora I hear Theo's brother asked you to the ball. Did you say yes?" Gwen Monday called across the table, causing Nora to go bright red.

"Er yes I did," Nora replied sheepishly.

"That's great. We can all go together like a double date."

Barney was sick of hearing about the Valentine's Ball, not least because he didn't have anyone to go with.

"You two still not got dates yet?" Tabitha asked Barney and Thomas and they both shook their heads. "The ball is next week. You'd better get a move on or their will be no one left to ask."

"I bet loads of people still don't have dates yet," Barney noted hopefully.

"Yeah like who?"

"Er..." Barney hesitated as he looked down the Hufflepuff table. "Astrid?"

"She's going with Lara. She asked her yesterday."

"What about Tilly?"

"Tilly is going with Emery," Thomas interjected. "He asked her out in Herbology last week."

Barney was really beginning to think there was no one left to ask.

"What about you Thomas?" Tabitha said. "Are you going to pluck up the courage to ask Ottomaya?"

"I don't know. She just wants to be friends. Might be weird if I ask her to be my date."

"Nonsense. You can go as just friends, I'm sure she would love to go with you," Tabitha suggested, trying to give her friend some encouragement. "Anyway Barney we'd better get going to Care of Magical Creatures."

"I'll walk with you," Thomas said as the three of them got up and left the hall.

As they were walking Tabitha noticed Ottomaya up ahead and give Thomas a nudge. "Now's your chance."

"I'm not sure. I think I should just leave it," Thomas said, sounding rather bashful and purposefully not looking in Ottomaya's direction but Tabitha had other ideas.

"Hey Ottomaya!" she shouted down the corridor and Ottomaya turned around. "Thomas would like a word with you."

"Thanks," Thomas said sarcastically under his breath as Tabitha pushed him in Ottomaya's direction.

Barney and Tabitha walked on and left Thomas to it but it wasn't long before he caught up with them again as they neared Hagrid's hut.

"So?" Tabitha asked as he approached but the smile on his face made the answer obvious.

"She said yes. We're just going as friends but she said yes."

"That's amazing. Now we just need to find you a date Barney."

Right now Barney wished he would develop a case of Dragon pox so he could spend Valentine's Day in the hospital wing alone.

A couple of days later at breakfast Barney came down to the Great Hall and joined Thomas at his table.

"Where's Tabitha?" he asked as he sat down.

"She got a package from her grandma this morning. She said it was a dress so she's taken it to her dorm to try on. She didn't want Hamish to see it before the ball."

Barney frowned at more talk about the ball and Thomas could see the look on his face.

"Still no date?"

"No. Who exactly am I meant to ask? Everyone has a date."

"What about Voila?" Thomas suggested.

Barney had thought about asking Viola. They got on well as friends and she had been helping him with Nevermore's journal but he thought it might be weird if he asked her to a ball when there was nothing romantic between them. But Thomas was going with Ottomaya as friends so maybe Viola would appreciate having a friend to go with too.

Before Barney and Thomas could discuss it any more Tabitha came into the hall and sat next to them looking as white as a sheep.

"What's wrong?" Barney asked.

"It's my dress."

"Is it not very nice?"

"Oh no it's really nice, it's lovely in fact. It's just... well it's green."

"What's wrong with green?" Thomas asked. "Green is a nice colour."

But Barney realised what was wrong with a green dress. "Your vision!"

"Exactly. It's all coming true, everything I saw. First Hagrid's hand, now me wearing a green dress. All that's left is someone being carried away on a stretcher."

"Well just don't wear the dress then," Thomas suggested, thinking the answer was simple.

"But that doesn't mean the last one won't come true. Anyway I need to go and see if I can sort out another dress for next week now because I can't wear that," Tabitha said and got up and left again, looking rather glum and Barney was thinking the Valentine's Ball was more trouble than it was worth as he and Thomas left too to go to their Ancient Runes class.

Thankfully for Barney there was little talk of the ball in the class. Maybe everyone was finally bored of talking about it he thought to himself.

Professor Dufour set the class a task of translating a text from Elder Futhark to English but soon Barney was scribbling symbols from Nevermore's journal and seeing if he could find any in of them in Spellman's Syllabary, the textbook they were using, evening though he had looked through it many times before.

"They don't look like Elder Futhark to me," a voice said behind Barney that made him jump as he looked around to see Professor Dufour peering over his shoulder.

Barney quickly pushed the parchment under his textbook. "Oh that... just doing some doodling Sir," a flustered Barney said and Thomas looked filled with worry.

Dufour reached past Barney and pulled the parchment back into view and scanned the symbols with intrigue. "More puzzles being set by this seventh year student?" Dufour asked suspiciously and Barney reluctantly nodded. "Are they one of my students? As I would very much like to converse with them. They seem very knowledgeable of ruins for a student."

"Oh no Sir they don't take ruins... it's just a sort of hobby for them," Barney replied and could feel his face going red.

"They don't study runes? Who is this student?" Dufour asked with a glaring stare right at Barney who froze and remained silent.

Another student called out to Professor Dufour asking for assistance but at first he ignored them and didn't break eye contact with Barney, still waiting for an answer. But when the student called out for a second time Dufour turned and headed over to them as both Barney and Thomas breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was close," Thomas said but Barney knew he hadn't got away with it as Dufour wasn't just going to leave it. Maybe it was time to enlist the help of a teacher in his quest.

After Runes Barney headed to the Great Hall to work on a Herbology assignment as he had a free period and sat with Billy, Hugo and Daisy, his friends from Gryffindor, who were working on the assignment too. And it seemed that Tabitha wasn't the only one who was concerned with his lack of a date for the Valentine's Ball.

"So you still haven't asked anyone?" Billy asked, seemingly abandoning his Herbology work as he thought finding Barney a date was more important. "I'm not sure who else hasn't got a date yet. Who are you going to ask?"

"I don't see why I need a date. I can just go alone."

"Barney it's a Valentine's Ball," Daisy noted. "It's implied in the event. Valentine's day is for couples. You need a date."

Right now Barney thought the only thing he needed was for people to stay out of his business but he didn't say this to his friends, he knew they were only trying to help.

Eventually Barney managed to steer the conversation back to the Herbology assignment and avoided any more talk of his date (or lack of) for the ball. But it was still playing on his mind. He didn't want to be the only one there without a date. Even Thomas had one now and he didn't want to end up being a third wheel on his friend's night.

The four of them finished their assignments and packed away their books ready for dinner as Barney headed off to drop his things back in his dorm. As he was walking he saw Viola in the corridor and thought back to his conversation with Thomas earlier in the day. Maybe just going as friends with Viola would be a good idea.

Before he could think about the idea any more, Viola had spotted him and came over.

"Hey Barney, any more luck with the journal?"

"No more progress I'm afraid," Barney replied, feeling a little awkward as he still debated about asking her to the ball and not even sure he had the courage to do so.

"Maybe we can find some time over the weekend to work on it some more together?" Viola suggested.

"Yeah sure," he said looking agitated.

"Are you OK? You look like something is on your mind?"

Barney took a deep breath and went for it, thinking he didn't have anything to lose. "Viola there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it? Is everything alright? You look as white as a sheep."

"Yeah I'm fine, it's just... well I was wondering..." Barney started to say as he tried to find the words and his heart raced. "... if you would like to... I mean no pressure but would you like to go the Valentine's Ball with me?" As Barney said the last word he suddenly saw Viola's face drop. "I mean just as friends of course," he added, trying to save the situation but Viola still looked very uncomfortable and Barney immediately wished he hadn't asked.

"Barney that's really nice of you to ask it's just..."

"Sorry I shouldn't have asked. I did genuinely mean just as friends. Pretend I didn't ask."

"No it's not that it's just Conrad literally asked me this morning and I said yes," Viola said, feeling awkward.

"Oh right well that's great news," Barney said, trying to not seem bitterly disappointed. "I mean I'm I thought Conrad would have had a date already as I'm sure loads of people would have wanted to go with him."

"They did but apparently he just wanted to go with me," Viola replied bashfully and Barney just wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. Maybe there was a spell for that he thought to himself and he wished he knew it right now.

The day of the Valentine's Ball arrived and Barney didn't have a date. He had put on a brave face and pretended he didn't mind but really he wished he had someone to go with, not least because he knew he was practically going to be the only there without one.

Tabitha was in an exceptionally good mood because Hamish had bought her new dress robes for the ball so she didn't have to wear the green one from her grandma, like she had seen in her vision. Though she hadn't seen them yet as they weren't arriving till later that day, but Hamish had assured her they would not be green.

Both Thomas and Tabitha had said that Barney was welcome to join them with their dates and all arrive at the ball together but Barney had said it was fine and he would just arrive on his own. He planned to arrive late once the ball was in full swing and hope no one paid too much attention to him being alone.

In Barney's Slytherin dorm all the boys were busily getting ready putting on their dress robes, using spells to make their hair look good and spraying on copious amounts of aftershave, which made the dorm smell sickly with the mix of different over powering scents. Barney sat on his bed reading, still not dressed or ready and making little effort to be. But after practically having his dress robes pulled on him by his dorm mates he headed to the common room with the rest of them, ready for the ball.

Though since Barney's first year at Hogwarts the Slytherin house had become more tolerant and friendly towards the other houses, they had all still ended up taking dates to the ball who were fellow Slytherins. Amongst the pairings was Velyan taking Silvanna and like the rest of the house they were very surprised to see her walk in wearing flowing silver dress robes, her white hair slightly curled and a hint of make up (something she never wore). Barney found it hard to think this was the same girl who barked orders at him on the Quidditch pitch.

As everyone complemented each other on how great they looked, Barney tried to sneak back to his dorm but everyone seemed to be making the effort to make sure he didn't feel left out and he failed to escape the compliments. And before he knew it he was being dragged along to the Great Hall.

The hall had been decorated to the max. Red roses covered the walls, silver confetti hearts hung high in the air and sparkled in the candle light which lit the room and a band played romantic music as they all arrived.

As everyone walked in hand in hand with their dates, Barney hung back. Everyone stopped to have their picture taken with their dates by a photographer who had set themselves up just inside the hall. Barney managed to sneak past everyone while they were distracted and headed straight to the drinks table and poured himself a large fire soda. But he wasn't alone for long and soon his friends from the other houses arrived and came up to him to make sure he didn't feel left out but all it did was remind him more how he didn't have a date.

Barney looked around the hall and saw Hamish with his friends but couldn't see Tabitha anywhere. As Thomas headed over to the drinks table to get a drink for him and his date Ottomaya, Barney went over to speak to him.

"Where's Tabs" Barney asked as Thomas poured two glasses of punch.

"There was a problem with her dress robes."

"I thought Hamish was getting her new ones?"

"He did but they weren't quite to her taste."

"So where is she? Is she not coming?" Barney asked with concern but before Thomas could answer, Barney's attention was drawn to the doors of the Great Hall.

Walking in looking like a princess was Tabitha. Her blonde hair that she usually wore up was draped over her shoulders and she was wearing a stunning green dress robes that seemed to sparkle. Barney's mouth was wide open in shock and Thomas turned to see what he was staring at and was equally as surprised to see how amazing Tabitha looked. Hamish instantly abandoned his friends, headed over to Tabitha and took her hand and guided her into the hall, leaving Barney feeling very jealous.

As lots of the girls from Hufflepuff crowded round Tabitha to tell her how great she looked the band stopped playing and Professor McGonagall, who was dressed in grey dress robes, took to the stage. "Good evening students. May I say how elegant you all look tonight. Now before this ball can officially begin it's time to greet our special guests back from America. Please welcome Eustice, Martha, Julian and Lola."

The hall erupted into clapping and cheers as the students welcomed back their friends. Eustice and Martha walked in hand in hand and Julian and Lola did likewise and both couples headed straight to the middle of the dance floor. The rest of the students fell silent as the band began to play again and the returning students started to dance. Shortly they were joined by other students including Tabitha and Hamish and Thomas and Ottomaya and soon almost all of the students were on the dance floor with their partners and so were some of the teachers including Madame Hooch and Professor Featherstone and Professor Night dancing with Professor Sinistra.

Barney felt very lonely as he stood by the drinks table on his own and he saw Professor McGonagall walking over to him. He really hoped she wasn't going to ask him to dance out of pity. The only thing worst that coming to a ball alone would be to have to dance with the headmistress.

"Good evening Mr West," McGonagall said as she poured herself a glass of punch. "Enjoying your night so far?"

Barney thought that was a stupid question to be asking someone who was all on his own at a Valentine's Ball, but he made polite conversation anyway as he watched everyone else dance. "Yes the hall looks amazing and it's great to see Eustice and the others again."

"Well enjoy the rest of your evening and don't worry..." she said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "the steady man quite often wins the race in the end."

As McGonagall walked off Barney thought to himself that he had no idea what his headmistress was talking about.

Barney was glad when the first dance was over and a lot of people vacated the dance floor and stated to mingle and get drinks so he no longer had to stand alone. He spent the evening going from group to group, trying not to cramp anyone's dates too much but also trying to make it look like he wasn't desperate for company as he was attending alone. But he felt a lot of people were taking pity on him and were making the effort to talk to him, which made him feel even worse. He couldn't wait for the night to be over.

As he stood talking with Billy and Hugo, and feeling like a third wheel, he was pleased when Viola came over to talk to him and he could leave the pair to their date.

"You look very smart tonight," Viola said, making Barney blush a little.

"You look amazing too," he replied, repaying the compliment.

"Thanks. Would you like to dance?"

"With you?" Barney said sounding surprised.

"Yes with me silly."

"But what about Conrad?"

"He's busy talking to his friends. Plus we would only be dancing as friends remember?" she said as she held out her hands towards him and Barney took it.

Viola led Barney to the middle of the dance but Barney was looking a little awkward. "Er... I don't actually know how to dance," he said looking embarrassed.

"Here," Viola said taking his left hand and putting it on her waist and taking his right hand in hers. "Just follow me."

At first Barney spent the whole time looking at Viola's feet to see what she was doing but eventually he started to get the hang of it. Well kind of.

As Barney danced with Viola he could see over her shoulder Tabitha dancing with Hamish and Viola noticed his attention was elsewhere and briefly turned around to see what he was staring at.

"You should tell her how you feel."

"What? Who? I don't know what you're talking about," Barney replied hastily but he knew exactly what she meant but was relieved when Viola didn't push the subject any more.

When the band had finished the song they were playing and then started playing a new more up tempo one, Conrad came along, and much to Barney's relief, cut it and started dancing with Viola again, leaving him to make a hastily exit from the dance floor.

Barney took a seat at one of the tables alone and was actually kind of glad no one was with him. He had spent all evening trying to make sure no one saw him alone and it had been exhausting and he'd barely enjoyed his night at all. But as he sat Tabitha came over and sat next to him.

"Doesn't everyone look amazing tonight?" Tabitha said as she still kept her eyes on the dance floor.

Barney wanted to turn around and tell her that she looked more amazing than anyone else but he didn't, though his focus was solely on her and he couldn't look away as he admired how beautiful she looked.

Tabitha turned to face him and Barney quickly thought of something to say so it hadn't been obvious he had been staring at her and a pendant around Tabitha neck glinted and caught his attention.

"That's a really pretty necklace," he said, looking at it more closely now and realising it was a small, jewelled badger made up of unusual yellow gemstones with the letters 'H' and 'M' either side of it.

"Oh this?" Tabitha said as she twiddled the pendant between her fingers. "Hamish gave it to me. It's a lavalier. It's quite a common gift for wizards and witches to give to each other."

Barney was glad when Thomas came over and interrupted the conversation so he didn't have to talk about Hamish. "You OK Thomas? Where's Ottomaya?" he asked as Thomas sat down.

"She's just gone to the bathroom. All this dancing is exhausting," Thomas replied and Tabitha laughed.

"Lola's been telling me what a great time she's been having at Ilvermorny," Tabitha said. "Kind of makes me jealous that I didn't apply for the exchange scheme."

As the three of them started to talk about Ilvermorny, their friends and the ball, Barney was really happy for the first time all night. There was no feeling like he was in the way, no pretending that he wasn't upset about not having a date. Instead he could just chat and have a laugh with his two best friends. He was even debating asking Tabitha if she would like to dance, just as friends of course, but suddenly a scream was heard out in the corridor.

The band immediately stopped playing, everyone stopped dancing and talking and looked towards the doors of the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall was first to the door followed by some of the other teachers and she led them out to the corridor.

Most of the students started to pour out behind them to see what was going on. Barney was near the back with Tabitha and Thomas so couldn't see what was going on but they could hear someone crying and talking hysterically but he couldn't work out what they were saying. He then saw Professor McGonagall, flanked by Professor Featherstone and Madame Pomfrey, race towards the Ravenclaw tower.

"What's going on?" Tabitha asked to Gwen who was moving back from the front of the crowd and looking visibly upset.

"It's Astrid, she's saying Lara's been attacked."

"Attacked? By who?!" Tabitha exclaimed.

"I don't know. Astrid is pretty upset. She's not making much sense."

Barney turned and saw McGonagall heading back from the Ravenclaw tower. Beside her was Madame Pomfrey and floating behind them was a stretcher with Lara St Clair laying on it unconscious.

Tabitha turned around too and saw Lara on the stretcher and let out a gasp of shock as it was all a mirror image of her version. She felt the blood drain from her and started to feel faint but Barney was on hand to steady her as she struggled to keep balance.

Barney and Thomas led Tabitha back into the Great Hall and sat back at one of the tables but all three of them were in too much shock to say anything. Though all Barney could think about was that if all of Tabitha's predictions came true, would that mean his would too? Was he going to be attacked by the beast?