Chapter Forty Two: Christmas
Colin Creevey looked out over the Mediterranean. When he was tired of that, he would walk to the larboard side and look at the Atlantic. It was the only fun he had while the Dreadnaught sat idle in the middle of the Straights. He had no duties at present, nor did he have anything to occupy his time. The worst part of it was thinking about his family. It was when things were quiet that he missed them. And things were very quiet these days.
"Mister Creevey."
Colin was running at once. He reached Admiral Grissom and saluted. "Your orders, Sir?"
"Find the Captain and have him meet me here. Then gather your belongings. You are to return to Dover."
Colin was surprised. "May I ask why, Sir?"
Grissom smiled at the boy, and bent his knees to talk to him more as a father than a commanding officer. "Colin, your performance on this ship has been excellent, and the only reason I have left to keep you here is personal. I enjoy having you here."
"I enjoy being here, Sir."
"I am happy to hear that, but you have proven your worth. You are to be given a new assignment, one with more responsibility. Good luck, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, Admiral," Colin said with mixed feelings. "I will pack my things at once."
"No. You will relay my message to the Captain at once."
Colin's grin returned in full force. "Aye, Captain." And he ran off to deliver his final message.
Two days later, Colin found himself on a cutter heading for Dover. He checked his calender against his orders and smiled at the timing. Admiral Grissom had timed his departure so that Colin would arrive at Dover on December 22. He was ordered to report to the Port Admiral on the 27th.
"Sir," Colin asked of the First Lieutenant. "When will we expect to reach Dover? I was hoping to catch a London train."
"March, I should think," the Lieutenant said, and laughed at Colin's expression. "You have not heard? The docks are under repair. All smaller ships have to dock elsewhere."
Colin frowned. "Then where are we going."
"Directly to London. We ARE the mail service. And do not worry, lad. We will have you there faster than if you took the train."
Colin walked quickly from the docks to find a coach waiting for him, a welcome sight in the waning light. It bore the crest of the Marquis of London. (It payed to have friends in high places.) The coachman spotted him and had the door open before Colin was halfway there. Inside, Lord Bontriomphe was waiting.
"My Lord, thank you for meeting me. How did you know I was coming?"
"Admiral Grissom spent two months planning your transfer, simply to give you this holiday. As it is, I regret to say that I have your orders."
Colin was surprised, but took the sealed letter. He broke the seal and read the contents. "My Lord, why am I attached to Naval Intelligence effective today? I was not to report for my orders for five more days."
"Convenience, Lieutenant. It seems that we need someone to act as a courier to your world. You were the likely candidate. You will be forced to stay there for at least a week, but we will still have you back here before the new year."
"Will I have a chance to see Lord London before I go?"
"Perhaps when you return. I should have you know that he became too much for me and I had to ship him off to his brother's old school." Lord Bontriomphe sighed at the thought that his young charge would be returning home for the Christmas holiday. "And tonight my vacation will be over."
Captain Smollett smiled at Colin as he handed him a sealed folder. "Your task is simple, Lieutenant. Because you want to return home for a visit, we know you will not object to delivering a few letters along the way. Once you have made the transfer, you may open the folder. A letter inside is addressed to you and will explain everything you need to know. You will take the night train to Cambridge. Professor Quirrell will meet you when the train arrives."
"I understand, Sir."
"Colin," the Captain called, "Merry Christmas."
Colin turned at the uncharacteristic remark, but only said, "Thank You, Sir."
It was almost midnight when the headmaster welcomed Colin Creevey back to Hogwarts. The tired boy sat down in a chair across from the headmaster's desk and broke the seal on the folder. He paused as Professor Dumbledore offered him a cup of tea.
"Um, do you have caffe, Sir. I'm sorry, coffee?"
"I can get some, Mister Creevey. I see you have acquired a taste for it."
"When the other choice is salt water, you get used to it, Sir."
Colin opened the folder and pulled out a handful of envelopes of varying thickness. The biggest one was addressed to Arthur and Molly Weasley. "Sir, I have a letter here for you."
"Thank you, Colin. And your coffee is on the table at your side."
The boy looked and found that the coffee and the table were both there. He paused to sip the coffee then went back to the letters. He found the one addressed to himself, and opened it.
"Lieutenant Creevey, by order of His Sovereign Majesty you are charged with keeping all of the information in this letter secret upon your return. The materials you are delivering will reveal certain facts which must not in turn be revealed to the general public in our world. As your position requires you to learn of them, it has been considered best that you be informed first via this method.
"Of minor importance, the missing girl, Ginevra Weasley has been found. For reasons that will not be explained, she can not be returned to her own world at this time. (Colin would have to ask Ron about that. He had never even heard that she was missing.) More important, the whereabouts of Lord Henry Somerset are now known. He is in or will shortly arrive at Constantinople, the Capitol of the Byzantine Empire. Because we are currently at war with Roumeleia it is obvious why this should remain secret.
"As a final note, you are to deliver a letter to the Minister of Magic in person. By chance, should he refuse it, you shall inform him that such a refusal is an act of war. Captain Smollett, Chief, Naval Intelligence."
"They found him," Colin noted as he referring the second chapter.
Albus chuckled as he looked up from the letter he had been given. "I assume you are referring to Harry."
"I am, Sir. We knew he had escaped but that was months ago. He'll have a story to tell when he gets home. And, Sir, may I ask about Ginny Weasley?"
"Lord Somerset will be better able to answer that question."Albus tapped his own letter. "I am relieved to find out that they have located her, but that is all they tell me."
"I do have a rather thick letter for her parents," Colin noted.
Dumbledore nodded, a grateful smile crossing his lips. "Then you must return here after breakfast. It is a letter I know they will want. Perhaps we should find you a bed."
"I would appreciate that, Sir. It has been a long day. "
As they stood up, Albus said, a note of warning in his voice, "I must ask you not to tell anyone about Harry. Except for perhaps five others, we are the only two that know about his disappearance." The warning changed to amusement. "There are hundreds of people who will swear that they saw him last month, flying a broom against a dragon."
"A dragon? Did anyone take pictures?"
"I do believe someone did . . . Colin, are you eating your letter?"
"I like the taste of ink," Colin lied.
Better rested and better informed about what was happening at Hogwarts, Colin still rose early the next morning, out of habit, and prepared himself for an eventful day. He left his private room, the same one given to Charlie Potter at one time, and proceeded to the Great Hall. Ron Weasley was there with the twins. Colin walked up and handed him a letter.
"Colin!" Ron shouted, setting the letter down as he stood up and grabbed his friend into a bear hug.
"Merry Christmas, Ron, Fred, George."
Colin suffered the abuse of an over friendly greeting, then sat down to join them for breakfast. "I know I am early. Why are the three of you up?"
"Couldn't sleep. Do you know about Ginny?" Ron said, his smile fading. "Mum's out of sorts over it."
Colin nodded. "I have a letter for her and your dad that I have to hand over personally." He reached into his pocket. "What would be the fastest way to deliver it?"
"At a run," Fred told him halfheartedly. Then he looked at the letter that Colin was holding. "George?"
George followed his brother's finger and looked at the letter. "That's Ginny's handwriting. Colin, let me see that."
Fred grabbed the letter. "It is her writing, and it's to Dad and Mum?"
"Don't open it. I need to deliver it."
George laughed. "Colin, you can threaten us all you want and it won't do any good."
"Yeah," Ron added, "Mum will kill them if they ever dare to open her mail . . . again."
"Maybe this once?" Fred asked, then handed the letter back when George and Ron shook their heads. "Then how about this. Ron, you open your letter."
Ron almost ripped his letter in half trying to open it. All three brothers crowded around trying to read it at the same time.
"It's sparse enough," Fred commented.
"But Ginny is alive and well," George added. "Mum WILL want to know."
"This is highly irregular, sending four of you away at this time of the morning," Professor Dumbledore said as he was accosted, "but I suppose we should hurry the good news along. I believe the fireplace in my office would be most appropriate." He added with a smile, "I will give you until Noon to return."
Dumbledore led the four boys into his office and produced the floo powder. When Colin's turn came, he followed the instructions and stepped into the flames. Unlike his friend Harry, he did enjoy his first experience. He stepped out of the fireplace into the Burrow and saw complete chaos. Then Ron shouted, "there he is. He has it."
Colin did not have the chance to pull out the letter when Molly Weasley pulled him into a hug and refused to let go. She kept repeating, "Thank you," over and over.
"I can't breathe," Colin said finally, and a tearful Molly let go of him. She took the letter he offered and hugged it to her heart as Arthur came up and put his arm around her. Colin noticed Mister Weasley's look and smiled. He gave a salute and turned back to the fireplace. Using the floo powder he had been given, he returned to the headmaster's office. The Weasley family needed to be alone with themselves.
"Do you know of this?" Robert asked casually, while his face held a ridiculous smile.
"I do, although it is not common knowledge." Colin was smirking.
"Do you have letters for Hermione and Ron as well?"
"I delivered Ron's letter over an hour ago. I've just come back from delivering a letter to the Weasleys."
Robert looked surprised. "Why the Weasleys? Did they find Ginny? Thank God Above." The surprise became a smile at the thought that something good had happened. "Are you staying for the Yule Ball?"
Colin shook his head. "Ginny's parents aren't the only ones who are worried. I have three more letters to deliver. Then I can go home."
"Then we shall hunt for Hermione at once. To whom do the other letters go?"
"Sirius Black."
"We will find him on the Sea Wolf. And?"
"Cornelius Fudge."
"The Minister of Magic? Why?"
Colin shrugged his shoulders.
Colin cringed as he gave Hermione the letter. If he could have made a wager that she would hug him, he would have made a fortune. "You're welcome, Hermione."
"You've made this a wonderful Christmas, Colin."
Colin showed her two more envelopes. "Once I deliver these, I have my own wonderful Christmas. I get to go home."
"Then we should go," Robert said, and he and Hermione escorted their friend to the lake, to find Sirius Black.
"Go away. I'm sleeping."
"Open Up In The Name Of The King," Colin shouted, then turned to Robert. "I've always wanted to do that."
The door opened and an angry man glared out. "What's so important?"
"They found Harry," Robert said.
"That's great," Sirius shouted. "Is he back at the school yet?"
"Um, my letter did not say," Robert admitted.
"Neither did mine," Hermione noted.
"Your letter, Sir," Colin said. "If you will excuse me."
Sirius nodded as he tore open his letter. "It doesn't say. Only that they know of his whereabouts." He looked up. "That Creevey boy left awfully quick. Do you think he knows?"
"He does, Uncle, but he may not say."
"And maybe he will."
"Uncle. He is forbidden. He needs to know but he may not reveal. Those are his orders."
Sirius Black stared. "That IS the older brother of Dennis Creevey? And Dennis IS exactly like his older brother?"
"Yes and Yes," Robert admitted
"Then how does he manage to keep a secret?"
Hermione smirked. "They pay him."
It was Christmas Day. It would have been a small village if the city had not been so close. As a result it was considered sub-urban. It even had a mall on the edge of the village, next to the highway. All the stores were closed, but the cinema was open.
Briefly, near the entrance to the mall, behind a convenient tree, two figures appeared along with a broom. Then the broom disappeared when it was wrapped in a cloak. Two boys entered the mall.
"Is that what you need?" Robert asked as he pointed to the phone booth. He was grateful for Mrs. Weasley's sweater. It was common looking so that he did not stand out.
Colin nodded. "I'll try to be quick." He picked up the phone and pressed for Operator Assistance. After a brief conversation, the phone began to ring. Someone answered and began to argue with the operator. "It's Me, Dennis," Colin yelled into the phone. "Just accept the call."
"MUM, IT'S COLIN," Dennis yelled, as the operator left the line. "Colin, where are you? Are you coming home? Did you win the war? Here's Mom."
Twenty minutes later, Colin hung up the phone and walked over to Robert. "We can go back now." His smile was gone.
"Colin. What happened?"
"My mum and dad. They never got my letters. Except for the first one that Hermione delivered. They didn't know what happened to me. I thought they didn't write because of the problems, but . . ."
"It happens. All of my letters to Hermione arrived on the same day. All four of them."
"At least she got them. Then I had to tell them I could only come home for one day. They hate me for all the trouble I've caused."
An Air Force Colonel walked by with his family and Colin automatically saluted. The Colonel paused then smiled and returned the salute. He could be heard saying to his wife, "Military school. Navy, I think."
"Should we head back?" Robert asked, and Colin nodded.
Dennis sat in his favorite corner. He could hear everything without being seen unless someone looked at him. The phone call was over.
"He tried to tell me that he wrote letters." Mum was definitely angry. "DAD, he was actually in a fight. Men killing each other."
"MUM, he's safe. It doesn't matter what happened. He's safe now. When he comes home, he stays. He'll understand why when he's older."
"Do you mean that? You'll make him stay?"
"If I have to tie him down and sit on him. He's too young to be doing those things."
There was no more yelling. The argument was over. When Colin came home he would stay home. Did that mean he couldn't go back to Hogwarts? Dennis would have to ask.
Colin entered the Great Hall alone, and looked about. Captain Sheffield and his daughter were talking with Professor McGonagall in one corner of the Hall, now empty of tables but with chairs lining the walls. It was still early and no one had arrived yet. He went out the main doors and waited. It was cold, but he did not mind. He could not reach the Minister but was told that Cornelius Fudge would be coming to attend the Yule Ball. And so he waited patiently until he saw the Minister's coach approaching. He could finally deliver his last letter.
The Minister alighted from the coach, Ludo Bagman and Percy Weasley with him. Colin stepped forward and saluted. "Minister, His Sovereign Majesty gives to you his compliments. I have been asked to deliver this letter to your hand on his behalf."
Cornelius Fudge eyed the boy carefully. "You're just a child. Can't they afford to send a man.?" He added angrily, "give me that letter and go back where you came from."
Colin handed the letter, and saluted again. The Minister, muttering about barbarians, walked with his two companions past the boy and into the school. Colin let out a sigh of relief. He could now go home for a visit. Then he frowned. It was now too late to leave. He would have to wait for morning.
"Mister Creevey," a voice said as the doors closed behind Colin. It was Sirius Black.
"Mister Black?"
Sirius smiled snidely. "You are a boy with many secrets. And I would really like to know what is going on."
"I don't understand, Sir."
"I've compared notes with everyone who has received a letter, except for Dumbledore of course. That Empire is planning something."
"I would not know, Sir."
Sirius nodded his head, grinning. "I know. You're just the messenger. All I want to know is who sent these letters. Not one of them has a name or a signature, only brief facts. And all the notes are different to some degree." He put a hand on Colin's shoulder. "I would like to know why you're here. I want to know about your orders. What can you tell me?"
"The ink tastes terrible, Sir."
Sirius did a double take, then started laughing. "You really are taking this game seriously, aren't you?"
"Mister Black," Colin said as carefully as he could. "This is not a game. We are not playing."
Black looked at Colin in a new light. He pointed over his shoulder at the Minister's Coach. "What do you see?"
"A coach, Sir, drawn by strange horses. I don't think I've seen their kind before."
"Those are thestrals, boy. Not everyone can see them. You need to experience death."
Colin nodded to show that he understood, and that simple, casual act scared Sirius Black more than if he were told his own world was at war. He left to take the coach away, but turned back a couple of times, eying the boy with a wary look.
"Are you still here, Colin?" Professor McGonagall asked as she looked outside the main doors a few minutes later. "Come inside. You must be freezing." As she pulled Colin inside, she grabbed his hands and started rubbing them. "What were you thinking? Standing out in the cold dressed like that? You could have caught your death."
"Professor? I was thinking that it's Christmas. And I should be home. And that I'll have to wait until tomorrow to leave here. The Minister arrived late."
"That is typical of the Minister," McGonagall told him, then made a suggestion. "The Ball is about to begin. It will help pass the time."
"Thank you, Professor, but I don't even have a date."
"I know someone, Colin. Come with me."
Hermione walked into the common room and every eye turned toward her. Robert, in full dress uniform, stepped forward and bowed. He then held out his hand, and Hermione took it. With more pride than he could express, he escorted his date to the Yule Ball.
Ron Weasley was nervous. He was already standing outside the Great Hall dressed in his hand-me-down dress robes. (Robert said he should have kept the lace cuffs.) Then Susan Bones appeared at the head of the stairs and smiled directly at him. All of his fears and worries disappeared. He held out his hand as she reached the bottom stair. "I want to dance every dance," Susan told him, and by the time they had reached the Great Hall all of his fears and worries had returned.
"She is a Lady and is to be addressed as such," Captain Sir Mortimer Sheffield said to, of all people, Percy Weasley. "In addition, she is my daughter and your remark is a deliberate insult."
Percy eyed the hand on the sword and went to pull out his wand, but Albus Dumbledore walked up at that moment. "Ah, Percy. Congratulations on the good news about your sister."
"Thank you, Professor," Percy said as he deliberately turned away from the Captain. "Mum couldn't stop talking about their finding her."
"Yes," Dumbledore said, nodding his head at Captain Sheffield. "THEY found her."
Percy stood still, not sure of what to do, then opted to forget that the argument with the Captain ever happened. "On behalf of my family, thank you, Sir, and, um, My Lady." He then walked away a little too quickly.
"The whole family is barmy if you ask me," Sheffield told Dumbledore. "And to make it worse, no two are mad in the same way."
"Then you have not met the twins," Albus said cheerfully. The Captain was laughing as Professor McGonagall neared with Colin in tow.
"Are you ready, Dearest?" Sheffield asked his daughter as the two walked up. "The dance is about to begin."
"Father, If Lord Henry were here that would be one thing. I do not feel right by trying to represent him. And besides, who am I to dance with?"
"You only need be here," Sheffield answered. "You have been told why."
"I do not want to be at a party only to stand around. Even at a party of strangers."
"Captain Sheffield," McGonagall interrupted. "Do you know," she paused, "Lieutenant Creevey?"
"We met last Christmas, at Lord London's estate."
"I thought he might be a suitable escort for your daughter."
Sheffield looked at the boy who was a full head shorter than his daughter. "Caroline?"
Caroline smiled. "Can you dance?"
"My mother always thought it was important to know how." Colin managed a smile.
"You should follow me then, My Lady," McGonagall said with a smile, "the Champions and their dates are gathered outside the doors."
Colin escorted Lady Caroline back out of the great Hall to see Lord Somerset standing next to the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Then he recognized Hermione, her hair straight and tied back the same way that Lady Caroline had her hair. Cedric Diggory was there with Cho Chang, and the other champions where there as well, but Hermione caught his eye. Then he noticed it. Her always too large teeth were now a perfect size. It completely changed the way she looked.
As they formed a line, Albus Dumbledore came walking up. "I apologize for holding everyone up. Mister Creevey, I have this for you." He handed Colin a short sword and scabbard.
"Professor?"
"You are escorting a Lady," Lord Somerset said at Dumbledore's prompting. "It is best that you do so as an officer of rank."
"Is that true?"
"You will be set back when you return," Lord Somerset acknowledged.
"Then you planned this?"
"Yes, we did," Lady Caroline said as she bent down to kiss his cheek. "I insisted they do something for you. Being forced to spend Christmas here instead of with your family." She whispered in Colin's ear. "The sword was a surprise."
Lady Caroline helped Colin put the sword on, and Lord Somerset saluted him, while Hermione curtsied. Cedric saluted as well. Then the Dumstrang Champion walked up and held out his hand.
"Con-grat-u-la-tions."
Colin shook his hand and only then recognized Victor Krum. "Thank you, Sir. I'm honored."
"We are running late already," McGonagall said, "so I want you to line up according to the order your names were called. Lady Caroline, under the circumstances, you should be the last to enter. As each couple enters they will be announced, and when all five couple are in the middle of the dance floor the music will start. If you don't know what to do at that point, you are on your own."
Colin tried to straighten his cravat, then to brush a crease out of his pants, and then any number of things to keep from thinking about what was going to happen. He vaguely heard Victor Krum being announced; the girl he was with sounded French. Then the next Champion and her companion. Colin found Lady Caroline's arm wrapped around his and they began walking forward.
"It is Father," Caroline said. "He is making the announcements. Do you hear how he is making every effort to embellish."
"I wasn't, um, was not paying attention."
"Then listen, Colin."
Cedric Diggory was entering the Great Hall.
"May I present the Champion for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Quidditch Captain for Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory and his companion, Cho Chang, Captain for Ravenclaw."
Colin and Caroline exchanged grins as Robert, Lord Somerset entered.
"May I present the Champion for the Royal College of Sorcery at Cambridge, Lieutenant Lord Robert de Somerset, Heir of Cambridge and his companion, Hermione Granger, Apprentice Sorcerer and Lady in Waiting of the Order of Saint Agnes."
"Lady in Waiting?" Colin asked in a whisper.
Lady Caroline whispered back. "That means her name has been put forward but she has not yet been approved. And Colin, be careful."
Colin noted her attitude. Something was going to happen. Something deliberate. He suddenly realized that he was given his sword so that he would be armed. To confirm his suspicions, Captain Sheffield winked at his daughter as they entered the Hall.
"May I present, representing My Lord Lieutenant Henry de Somerset, His fiancé, Lady Caroline Sheffield and her companion, Lieutenant Colin Creevey of His Royal Majesty's Navy."
Colin watched carefully as everyone was applauding. Lady Caroline was watching the Minister of Magic who was already arguing with Dumbledore. The crowd suddenly quieted as the argument was noticed, and a familiar voice nearby could be heard laughing, "He's actually going to marry that bitch."
Colin heard swords being drawn, and had instinctively drawn his own, stepping in front of Lady Caroline. Everyone in the hall fell silent except for people who were being pushed out of the way. Two Armsmen, the official escorts for Lady Caroline and her father, approached Draco Malfoy at a run. The first one who reached him struck solidly with his forearm, sending the boy to the ground. He then stepped forward, putting his foot directly on Malfoy's wand arm and his sword at Malfoy's throat.
"Don't," Lord Somerset threatened as one of the Slytherins went to reach for his wand. Before that student could react, he was struck by the other Armsmen.
Colin risked looking back at Lady Caroline and gave her a look which asked, "THIS was planned?"
"Not this," Lady Caroline's look said in return.
Colin looked back at the tableau. Draco Malfoy writhing in pain on the floor. His date, Pansy Parkinson, was staring in shock. Another student grunting, clearly in pain as well. Two Armsmen with drawn swords. Captain Sheffield, with sword drawn and pistol at the ready. Lord Somerset, his sword out and his free hand raised to remind everyone that he could ward off any spell thrown at him. And Colin, his sword steady in his hand, prepared to react to any command. A small voice in the back of his head kept saying that someone should take a picture of this.
"Remove them," Captain Sheffield shouted, and the room became alive again. The Armsmen grabbed the two boys, ignoring their injuries and forced them from the Great Hall. Madam Pomfrey was following them at a run.
Both Sheffield and Fudge headed straight for each other, both furious, but Sheffield had the louder voice.
"How Dare You Permit This. You Were Warned To Direct Them Properly On How To Address A Noble."
Fudge ignored him. "Get Out Of Here. You And Your Filth. Your 'Noble' Men Deliberately Attacked Two Students. Heads Will Role."
Sheffield's sword was out again in a flash and at the Minister's throat. "A poor choice of words," he said softly but clearly.
At that moment, a score of Armsmen entered the Great Hall and began taking positions at key points around the room. With them were a half dozen Sorcerers of the Master rank. Without turning around, Sheffield stepped back one pace and sheathed his sword. He raised his voice so that everyone could hear. "By the power invested in me by his Gracious Majesty John Plantagenet, Fourth of that Name, I declare this school and its environs to be a fief within the boundaries of the Anglo-French Empire. Long Live The King."
Thirty-three voices responded. "Long Live The King."
Sheffield then glared at the Minister. "You are not permitted within the Empire. Take your minions and go."
Cornelius Fudge was flabbergasted. He stepped back, intending to draw his wand, when several of the Slytherins decided to do that very thing. Gregory Goyle was lucky enough to be the first. He pointed his wand at the back of a sorcerer and shouted, "Ga Wa Ga. Da Boo Boo" Two other Slytherins tried to call out spells but they began talking nonsense as well.
Colin heard Hermione smirking. "It's a blatherskite spell. Any person who tries to use magic will only be able to 'blather'. "
"Excellent deduction, Apprentice Hermione," a Sorcerer called out. It was Cameron Mercer. He added loudly, "It affects the entire building. That is why the two students were taken outside to be healed."
Students began whispering to each other as they understood what was going on. Fudge, a defeated look on his face, left with Percy Weasley in tow. None of the teachers present dared to say anything, although Karkaroff and Madame Maxime were having a heated discussion with Dumbledore. Ludo Bagman dared to stay and ask, "about the tournament?"
"It will continue, Sir. However, it will continue without your Minister."
That started the students talking again. What had first seemed a threat was becoming more of a drama. Although several students left, mostly from Slytherin, most of them stayed if only to find out what would happen next. The visiting students stayed simply because their teachers did.
"With all due respect," Professor Quirrell said in a moment of silence, "Could we leave further politics until tomorrow? This is supposed to be a celebration." He tried to sound like everyone's uncle. "We can straighten everything out in the morning." He then prompted the band to begin playing and the Champions (those who needed to, first sheathed their swords) began to dance with their dates. The dancing was forced and awkward.
Professor Quirrell, waited a short time then dared to ask Professor McGonagall to the floor. She agreed, and they walked to join the champions. Perhaps if two respected adults, well, one respected adult and himself, showed the inclination, others might join them. That was when he decided to show off and pivoted on his foot in a dramatic fashion to stand there with open arms before Professor McGonagall, prepared to dance. In his younger days such a move had impressed several young ladies, except this time he slipped. Madam Pomfrey came walking through the laughter shortly afterward and examined his foot as he winced in pain.
"It's only a sprain," she said and raised her wand.
"Poppy," McGonagall called out in warning.
"Ga La Ga Wa Wa," Poppy said in response. Shocked by what happened, and annoyed by the increased laughter, she then kicked Professor Quirrell in the buttocks to express her anger. He let out a yell and everyone in the room roared. Poppy then forced him to hop all the way out of the Hall and outside so that he could be healed. The atmosphere changed as everyone, students, teachers, guests and Armsmen made no effort to control their mirth.
Professor McGonagall signaled for the band to continue playing, then turned to Captain Sheffield. He took his cue and bowed deeply. Minerva curtsied and they began to dance. Fred Weasley dragged Angelina Johnson onto the dance floor, then bowed to her. She laughed and curtsied, and so it went. Now that Fred had done it, every boy had to bow to his date. By the time the first song was finished, the Hall was filled with dancing couples.
The song ended, and another began. Something more modern, and heavier on the drums. The Captain who had so bravely faced down the Minister of Magic beat a hasty retreat from the dance floor.
Those students who had remained in the Hall began to relax and enjoy the Yule Ball. Within the hour, the Armsmen were discreetly withdrawn and it was as though nothing had ever happened.
"That was amazing," Lady Caroline said as she and Colin stepped outside. "I have never danced like that before. Father must be horrified."
"My Lady?" Colin asked after politely laughing, "Captain Sheffield said that you were Harry's, Lord Henry's, fiancé. Does Lord Henry know about this?"
"It is Father's private joke. He says that because I refuse every boy he throws at me. I know he means well, but I do not feel attracted to any of them." Lady Caroline paused, then said defensively even though Colin had not said anything. "It is not that I want Lord Henry, nor does he want me. It is only a convenience, until I find someone I do like. Those boys were nice, and some of them did show potential, but they were not what I am looking for."
"I understand," Colin said, feeling he should say something.
"It is only," Lady Caroline continued, "that Lord Henry, I mean those boys, I mean . . ." A tear rolled down her cheek. "He had a freshness to him, Colin. He never smiled simply to be nice. He smiled because he is happy. And I noticed that he always smiles, always smiled, when he looked at me. I miss him. I only wish I knew where he was. I only . . ."
"Constantinople," Colin said softly.
Lady Caroline paused in mid-sentence. "You know where he is."
"And I may not reveal this fact to anyone in this world, or when I return."
"I never heard a word."
Colin would have made a small fortune if he bet anyone that she would give him a hug.
"Colin? Constantinople?"
Colin gave her his best grin. "Knowing Harry, he's probably having Christmas Dinner with His Most Christian Majesty."
"I could believe it," Lady Caroline said and laughed.
His Most Christian Majesty Kyril XXV greeted the two people presented to him in line. When his sources told him that the woman was in Constantinople, and trying to remain quiet about it, he insisted that she and her nephew be added to the guest list. It was always best to have such a woman out in the open, where she could be watched very carefully.
"Countess Olga Polovski, and her nephew, Count Sigismund Polovski," the Steward announced.
His Majesty smiled as the Countess curtsied, and her nephew bowed appropriately. "It is a pleasure to welcome you to Constantinople."
"The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty."
"And this is your nephew?" the Emperor asked, looking carefully at the young black-haired boy with the brown tinted eye lenses. "I had heard that he died." That line was spoken in the German of Brandenburg, the court language of the Polish Empire.
Harry knew he had to reply, and he did so with flawless intonation. "At least twice, Your Majesty. But I have recovered."
The Emperor laughed. "You will go far young man, but I caution you, do not linger here. Your face is now known in Roumeleia. The Byzantine Empire will not smile kindly on you."
Harry took a chance and spoke in Anglo-French, "I assure Your Majesty that I do not plan to stay."
The Emperor was pleased at the remark and placed his doubts aside. But he would see that both of these guests would depart his lands quickly.
A/N: I wanted to clear up a slight misunderstanding in case more than one reader is confused. Henry Planck, as hlb asked, is not an alternate Harry. While he does have black hair, he has brown eyes. Also, he is over a year older than Harry. Ginny appeared where she did because she wanted to go to "Harry who was in danger". Since Henry Planck fit the description, she appeared where he was. Hence the comment, "Oops, wrong Harry."
Also, TimI asked about Potter's Field. It is not a prison. It is a cemetery for indigents, poor people without family. According to the stories, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and was payed the sum of thirty pieces of silver. He returned the money and went off to kill himself. The money was used to buy ground for a cemetery. It was called Potter's Field after the profession of the man who formerly owned the land.
As a piece of trivia, when a sailor dies at sea, he is said to have gone to Fiddler's Green.
