Pure Happiness
Chapter 3-
The Event
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Dinner that night was abuzz with excitement. Students from every house were gossiping about the upcoming event that Professor Dumbledore had planned for them all. The only house not as excited as the rest was Slytherin. Except for the first years, who were naïve about the "Slytherin Code", everyone at that table looked bored to tears. They looked as if it was just any other dinner; that nothing major was about to occur. Their calm and collected appearance bugged everyone to death. Many students across the Hall glared at the Slytherin table, infuriated that they weren't as excited as they were.
Albeit he looked the most bored, Draco was secretly dying to know what the surprise was. It had bugged him all day- throughout all of his classes, at lunch, outside…. He looked around at his housemates, utterly perplexed at their attitudes. Pansy had one elbow on the table, holding her head, and mixing some peas and mashed potatoes with her fork. Crabbe and Goyle, of course, had their heads down close to their plates, shoveling food into their mouths with the shortest distance possible. Theo Nott was scribbling away on a piece of parchment, and Blaise was busy snogging Millicent.
When dinner was finally over, Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat and walked around to the front of the teacher's table. He walked down the stone steps that led up there and down to the center of the four tables. When he reached the midpoint, he stopped and smiled gently at all of the students. The children were all puzzled as to why he was down there, seeing as he'd never done it before.
"Good evening, everyone. Now that we are all fed and watered, it is time for me to discuss with you all about the upcoming event that is to take place at our school," he cried. "But because it regards only the seventh year students, I must ask all lowerclassmen to please retire to their dormitories for the night." After many groans were sounded out, table by table the younger children shuffled out the great oak doors. "If you all would rise, please," Professor Dumbledore asked.
After the students did so, he then clapped twice and the tables folded themselves and flew to the sides. Then, Professor McGonagall conjured up a great deal of chairs for the students to sit in while listening to the Professor.
All of the chairs were completely different… there was everything from hard wooden chairs to humongous squishy beanbag chairs. The students all took particular delight in finding a chair that "tickled their fancy". Once they had all settled in, Professor Dumbledore glided to the front of the crowd and opened up his arms.
"Hello, everyone. I know many of you are very excited to hear about the upcoming event. To start, many of our teachers here have acknowledged the fact that for seven years, there have not been healthy inter-house relationships. The entire staff here- oh, alright, Severus- most of our staff wishes to make these bonds much stronger.
"Ergo, this year there is to be a big series of… well… events of which a few of you and a partner from a different house shall compete in. You'll race against other students, of course, for the prize at the end of the tournament. No, it's not exactly like the Triwizard Tournament, Mr. Zambini, but it is quite similar to it. Do any of you have any questions on the subject?"
Immediately, Hermione's hand shot up. Chuckling softly to himself, Professor Dumbledore gestured for her to speak. "Professor, did you say that only a few of us will have partners from a different house that we're not good friends with?"
"Ms. Granger, yes. That's exactly right. The students and their partners have already been selected, and if you are lucky, you shall find you and your partner's name on a note card in your dormitory," he replied. "Ah, yes… Ms. Brocklehurst." Mandy, a pretty blonde Ravenclaw with shabby robes, asked,
"Professor, what type of events are we to compete in? Are they physically strenuous, or what?" Professor Dumbledore scratched his head and thought for a moment.
"Hmm… let me remember. You see, my memory's starting to fail me as I grow older," he replied. Mandy rolled her eyes, but Professor McGonagall stood up from her seat at the Teacher's table and answered the question.
"There are all types, Ms. Brocklehurst. There shall be events that deal with logic, solving problems, and, of course, physical events," she stated quietly, in her ever strict voice. Many students nodded, and quite a few girls were getting quite giggly. "Is that all?"
"No," came a voice that belonged to Pansy Parkinson. "Just how many events are there going to be total?" Professor Dumbledore seemed to have regained his memory, because he jumped forward immediately.
"Because there are only ten pairs of students competing, there will be ten events for them to compete in. But we can not have any more questions, seeing as it is getting quite late and you all have classes tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening, everyone!"
Everyone stood up and left the Great Hall. The giggly girls were jabbering on and on about which partner they'd like to have. A few of the girls wished that Cedric Diggory was alive and in their year so they'd definitely win. Some other students, like Harry, Ron, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan and Neville Longbottom, were discussing the events of which were to take place.
"Bet they're going to have a boggart and see who's the bravest against their worst fear!" exclaimed Dean. Seamus shook his head.
"Nah," he replied. "They had that in fourth year, and they already know that we can do those easy things!" As they went on and on, Neville looked more and more terrified. Anyone who looked close enough saw him begging Merlin that he'd not be chosen.
Hermione, on the other hand, walked silently, staring at the stone floor. Because she wasn't watching where she was going, she bumped right into something big and heavy. THUMP! She was lying on the ground, rubbing her head.
"I'm awfully sorry, I didn't see where I was- Malfoy?!" she exclaimed. Draco looked down with a look of horror.
"Ugh, Mudblood! Why weren't you watching where you were going?" he whined. "Now I have to go… go… decontaminate myself! Yuck…!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Nice try, Malfoy. But you've already used the so-called 'cleaning' joke today," she spat. His cheeks turned pink and he slouched away towards the dungeons. Hermione got up, brushed the dirt off of her uniform, and walked slowly to the Pink Lady.
'I really hope I get to compete,' she thought. 'As long as I'm not with someone as horrible as Malfoy.'
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Ahaha! She's upset…. Thanks to the following for reviewing:
-RonFan- Thanks so much for reviewing! I know, the event thing was killing me! I couldn't think of anything. But hopefully this is alright. I'll talk to you on Easter!
-Time Warp- J.K. Rowling? I don't think so. But thanks anyways! Review again soon, I loved getting yours!
-Anonymous Miss- Thanks for putting me on your faves list! I'm ever so flattered, LOL!
-Everyone else that reviewed- THANK YOU! I appreciate it so very much!
*I won't be able to post another chapter for a week, seeing as it's Spring Break and my family's going away for Easter!*