Sailor Witches 24
Dance With Me Part 2
I do not own Sailor Moon, Harry Potter! Here's the Christmas chapter and it's mighty long! Merry Christmas everyone! Open slowly or rip right into it if you want!
"Lita!" Mina cried, shaking her to get her awake. "Lita, Lita! Wake up! It's Christmas morning!"
"Huh, what?" Lita sat up.
"Come on, we've got presents!" Mina said excitedly.
"Presents!" Lita sprang out of her bed. "Hannah, Susan, wake up!"
The four girls crowded around to open all their gifts. "This one's from my mom!" said Mina as she began opening a large package. She let out a scream when she saw what it was. "Oh my gosh, Lita!"
"What?"
"It's a broom!" Mina exclaimed. "My mom got me a broom!"
"No way!" Lita cried. "What make is it?"
"It's a Comet 160!" she cried. "Now I can practice for Quidditch!"
"If you ask Cedric," Hannah said, "he might help you learn to fly.
"Really?"
"Well, he is Quidditch captain," Hannah smiled.
"I'll ask him later this morning," said Mina. "Hey, Mom sent me money too!"
--
At breakfast as Mina was eating, a red rose floated behind her. Lita nodded at it. "Mina, there's a rose floating behind you."
"Huh?" Mina turned around and indeed, saw the rose. "Hey, I wonder if it's form Tuxedo mask."
"Tuxedo Mask can't make things float," Lita said. "Wait, here comes another one."
Another rose floated to Mina. She got up to go get it. This one was a light blue. People saw the roses to see what was going on. "There's more!" she said and she went on walking, following the trail of floating roses. Some girls tried to take them from the air. "Don't touch, they're mine!"
The roses lead out of the Great Hall, down the stairs. They were different colors. Artemis came down the stairs and saw her grabbing the roses.
"Huh? What's with the roses?" he asked himself. He decided to follow her.
The flowers led outside and ended by a snow sculpture in the shape of a heart. He saw Artemis come by her side.
"Hey, Artemis," Mina said as she petted his head. "See these roses? Pretty aren't they?"
"I'm glad you like them," said a voice behind the heart shaped snow sculpture.
"Huh?"
Artemis meowed curiously and Pierre emerged from the snow sculpture with a light blue, green and red rose in hand. Mina gasped.
"Pierre!"
"Bonjour." Pierre smiled, walked up to her, knelt down and held out the three remaining roses. "S'il vous, Mina, come with me to the ball tonight."
Mina gasped again. Her mouth couldn't seem to work. This was exactly how she wanted a guy to ask her out, except that Pierre said please in French. Artemis looked up at Mina. Mina smiled.
"Yeah," she whispered. Then she cleared her throat and took the roses. "I mean oui!"
"Merci," said Pierre. "Oh, I would like if you wear zees in your hair." He took a couple of sparkly hair jewels of flowers, stars, hearts and butterflies. "Zey will bring out your eyes. I think the red ribbon does not fit you."
"Really?" she asked, reaching her hand up to it.
Mina got the red ribbon from Higashi. He was a member of the dark agency but she kept the ribbon for some odd reason. Pierre was right. The red ribbon did not fit her. She should've gotten rid of it a long time ago. She hoped Pierre was not a potential dark wizard and she pulled the red ribbon from her hair while making a note to burn it later and she took the ornament from Pierre.
"Thanks. It's really pretty." She said. "See you tonight!"
--
Professor McGonagall set out a pretty red dress on her bed and turned to her mirror. She had just finished working on the spell to make look younger. However, it would only last for a few hours. But it would do. She closed her eyes and started muttering the spell, the wand pointed at her heart. "Abalieno me quarter impubes arunes."
A yellow light shot out of her wand and went through her. She gasped in surise and waited for the spell to take effect.
Nothing happened for a minute and she thought she did it wrong. She frowned but then she felt something going on inside her. The spell was working on the inside out. Her heart was pumping a little faster as her circulatory system improved and she could feel a change in her bones. They felt stronger. The cartilage was renewed and her muscles tightened. Her skin stretched to make her look like a thirty-year old woman. Her graying hair changed back to golden brown. She reached her hand back to her head and took her hair down, letting it fall around her shoulders. She grinned to see her new pearly whites.
Professor Minerva McGonagall wasn't the transpiration professor for nothing.
--
"Lydia, do I look okay?" Serena inquired for the third time. Hermione and the other Gryffindor girls had already left for the ball.
"Yes, Serena," said Lydia with a sigh, running her fingers through her hair. She took the braids out and it looked incredibly wavy as it hung around her shoulders. She wasn't used to it yet but it looked more formal than her usual plaits.
"You don't think these holly berries around my—well—meatballs are too much, do you?"
"No," Lydia chuckled, "really festive and they're not meatballs, they're buns."
"Right. You think Harry would like it?"
"Well, why don't you go down and ask him?" Lydia inquired. "He's probably been waiting in the common for about an hour."
"Lydia," Serena said, wringing her hands, "this is the first, well, date I've been with since I broke up with Darien! I want it to be perfect, you know?"
"It'll be fine," said Lydia. "Ye and Harry's become good friends and maybe even more."
"I wonder what Darien will think," Serena whispered. "You think I've done the right choice?"
"Well, if ye were still dating Darien," Lydia shrugged, "ye wouldn't be going to the ball with Harry. Ye might be staying up here."
"I probably would," Serena nodded. "And thinking about Darien all the time. Maybe I did make the right choice, you know? Maybe Darien and I did love each other in the Moon Kingdom, but that was a thousand years ago and this is now!"
"That's true."
"And the funny thing is," Serena said, "I feel some kind of connection with Harry. When we were having that snowball fight together with the Weasleys—well—Darien and I never would do that. He's always too busy."
"Come on," Lydia urged. "The guys are waiting for us and Harry has to open the ball, remember?"
"Oh yeah, that's right!" Serena whispered and they started for the door.
"Girls," said Seamus, "they always have to everything perfect, don't they?" He was wearing hunter green dress robes.
"Seamus, what's with the shoes?" Ron inquired.
Seamus held out his foot and tapped it. His shoes had an inch thick heel with a silver square buckle. "Lydia and I decided to—well—match."
"Hi, Harry!" Serena called from the stairs.
Harry looked up and blinked. Serena looked really pretty in her red gown over white ruffles. Holly berries went around her buns and she wore a nervous smile. He was fighting to say something how she looked as she started to walk down.
"S-Serena, er--,"
But just then, Serena picked an awful time to have a klutz attack. She tripped on the hem of her dress and flew from the stairs. Lydia reached out to grab her hand but she missed her by an inch.
"Serena!" she shouted.
Serena let out a scream and Harry impulsively reached out to catch her. He landed on his back with a thud. Lydia hurried down the stairs and the people already in the common room circled around them. When Harry looked up at Serena's worried face, he had a feeling this had happened before.
"Ye all right, Serena?" Lydia asked when she made it down.
"I think so," said Seamus. "Harry broke her fall!"
Serena's face went as red as her dress. She looked at her date, whom she may had knocked the wind out of. "I'm sorry Harry," she whispered. "This is probably the worst time to tell you I might step on your feet."
"It's okay," he gasped. "You're just as likely to step on my feet as I am on yours."
"Well, I guess we're even then," Serena mumbled as she pushed herself off him. She still looked red with embarrassment.
"It's okay, Serena," said Ron in an effort to make her feel better. "Neville did the same thing before he left with Ginny."
"No he didn't," Seamus whispered.
"Shh!" said Ron. "So, is Ami going to meet me in the great hall or did she want me to collect her from Ravenclaw?"
"Neither," Lydia answered. "By the staircases."
"Well, shall we then?" Harry said to Serena as he held out his arm.
Serena, smiling to recover her klutz attack, closed her hand around his inner elbow. "Okay."
When Ron saw Ami waiting for him by the staircases, he gasped. The bright orange dress she wore made her stand out and she wore a matching hair band in her hair. She felt awkward wearing bright orange but since Lydia told her it was his favorite color, maybe it will help her feel comfortable later. She looked up and smiled shyly. Ron turned to Serena.
"That's Ami?" he inquired. "She's my partner?"
"Yeah," Serena replied.
"You didn't tell me she was a Chudley Cannon fan too!" he muttered and before Serena could tell him she wasn't, he hurried down to meet Ami.
"Hi, Ami," said Ron with a big smile. "Nice dress."
"Er, thank you," she replied. "Lydia told me it was your favorite color."
"You like the Cannons too?" he asked.
"The what?"
"The Chudley Cannons," he told her.
"Oh," she blushed slightly, "I may have read about them before the World Cup. Actually, when we got our dress robes Lydia said I should get this because it would be my lucky color."
"She did?" he glanced over at Lydia, who was smiling nervously. Seamus was looking at her as if she were up to something. "Well, she was right about that." Ron offered his arm to Ami and she paused before taking it. "So, your friends told me you're a good chess player…" he walked off with her and Seamus and Harry followed them with their dates on their arms.
"Lydia, I think you should replace Professor Trelawny," said Seamus. "Divination would be a heck of a lot more interesting."
--
The six fourth year students waited by the entrance hall. Ron was talking to Ami about chess and he didn't even seem to notice Fleur walk in. Ami did see the frayed collar and sleeves of his robes, but she was too nervous to even care. Lita waved at them from the arm of a short boy who looked rather silly standing with a tall girl but he looked happy to be at the dance still the same. Lita's hair wasn't up in her usual high ponytail but it was still off her neck in a pretty updo, quite unlike her tomboyish character.
Mina looked like a Beaxbatons student wearing her light blue dress robes as she stood next to one. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a French twist decorated with the hair jewelry Pierre gave her that morning. Pierre's robes were also blue, but a deeper shade.
Malfoy led a herd of Slytherins with his arms hanging down his sides and scanning the entrance hall for Raye. Raye hadn't been in the common room for the whole day and he was dying to know whom she was going with. Though Pansy Parkinson was clinging to him as if they were conjoined twins, he acted as if he didn't' even know she was there. As he looked the room over for Raye and her date, wondering who could possibly be better to escort her than Draco Malfoy, the oak doors opened and the Durmstrang students came walking in. Raye was in the back on Vladimir's arm with Sofia, who sadly, did not have a date. However, she didn't seem all too bothered as she was chatting to Raye about the festive decorations. Raye's gorgeous long, thick black hair was pulled back in a fancy, medieval-like plaited style with flowers. She let out a laugh, not evening noticing Draco's jealous, painful stare.
Serena was about to say how pretty she looked when Professor McGonagall called them in, however, it sounded nothing like her usual voice. "Champions over here, please!"
Serena felt a leap in her stomach and Harry did too as the couple walked in. Serena gasped when she saw who she thought was her transfiguration professor.
"H-Harry, is that Professor McGonagall?"
"I—I don't know," he whispered back.
Professor McGonagall wore a long flowy red dress with a low neck and her hair fell around her shoulders in gorgeous curls. Forty years were taken away from her entire body.
"Dang, she really is the Transfiguration Professor, huh?" Serena mumbled.
"I—I guess so."
They were so shocked about their new Professor that they didn't notice the other champions walked in until they heard a familiar voice say their names. "Hi Harry! Hi Serena!"
They looked up. Hermione was on Viktor's arm. Her usual hair with too much body was nice and sleek and pulled back. Her robes were blue but they were identical to Serena's. Serena grinned.
"Hey, Hermione." She said. "Your dress robes are so pretty!
"Thanks," said Hermione, glancing from her dress robes to Serena's, "yours too!"
Serena nodded at Professor McGonagall, "Still wondering why we were studying Youth Transfiguration?"
"Oh my," said Hermione, "I guess Professor McGonagall really is the Transfiguration Professor!"
"That's what I said."
The doors opened and the other students walked in. Serena noticed the horrible looks Hermione was getting from the fangirls that always followed him around. Pansy looked at her in shock but Malfoy was looking at Raye. Sofia smiled and winked at Krum as she walked by. Ami smiled, waved at Hermione and Ron, quite over the fact Hermione was there with Krum and was pleased with his date, smiled and waved at Hermione as well, though he didn't really realize it was Hermione he was waving at.
The champions and their partners approached the front table and the Great Hall filled with applause. Percy drew out extra chairs and Harry sat next to him.
"I've been promoted," said Percy smugly. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."
"Great," Serena mumbled. After what Tippy told her, Lydia and the trio about Mr. Crouch, she couldn't' care in the least and she didn't like Percy that much either.
As Percy explained to Harry why Crouch wasn't there, Serena looked at the decorations and started talking to Hermione. "The decorations aren't usually like this in Christmas, huh?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. It must've taken the staff a long time."
"Did you get ready in the dorms are at the ship?" asked Serena. "I didn't see you in the dorms."
"Well, partly both," Hermione explained. "Viktor was nice enough to show me the ship. I saw Raye Hino there, from Slytherin. I think she was getting ready over there."
"Because she can't stand the Slytherin common room," Serena whispered, "or Malfoy. He wont' leave her alone."
"But why would be she in Slytherin?" Hermione asked.
Serena shrugged, "what, you've got to admire Malfoy to get into Slytherin? No—she's just pretty ambitious that's all."
Serena looked down at her menu, trying to make a decision what to get. As Harry picked up his own and looked around the room for a server Dumbledore looked down at his plate and said, "Pork chops!"
"Wow," Serena whispered. "Now that's service!"
Serena, after asking people what she should get, decided on a beef stew. She was enjoying it until she bit into a carrot. "Carrots! I hate carrots!"
Dumbledore stood up when everyone was finished eating and asked everyone to follow suit. He waved his wand and the tables disappeared and a platform with musical instruments appeared on it. The Weird Sisters walked in wearing ripped black robes and stepped on the platform. People clapped and they started playing. Serena looked around and saw the champions getting up with their dates. Harry was still looking at the Weird Sisters playing. Serena nudged him in the ribs softly.
"Uh, Harry," she said, "We have to dance now."
"Oh, right," Harry mumbled and it was his turn to trip on his dress robes. Serena smiled shook her head gently as she and Harry walked onto the dance floor. She placed his hands and started turning.
"Well, so far so good, huh?" Serena asked. "You haven't stepped on my foot once!"
"We've only just started dancing," said Harry, though he was smiling. "And you're leading."
"Don't' worry," Serena told him, "I'm sure by the time the evening's over, you'll be leading me."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's not your fault your aunt and uncle never taught you to dance."
"To tell you the truth," said Harry, "I don't think I'd want to dance with my aunt."
Serena giggled and Harry laughed.
A couple came by them. "Nice socks Potter," growled Moody.
"Oh thanks," said Harry, "Dobby the house elf made them for me."
Instead of looking at Moody, Serena was looking at his partner. "Madame Indigo!" she let go of Harry so she could hug her. "When did you get here?"
"A couple of hours ago," she replied. "Thought I'd come and chaperone." She nodded at Harry and Serena, "you two behave yourselves!"
Serena waved at her as Madame Indigo and Moody swept away. Madame Indigo looked to her partner. "We got nothing off Avery so we had to clear him. When I got word of Harry's name being placed in the goblet I went to go search for Bertha Jorkins."
"You shouldn't have gone by yourself," he grunted uneasily.
Madame Indigo chuckled. "Now Al, I was vigilant. Don't worry."
Moody didn't laugh. He was looking around the room. "What happened? Did you find her?"
"No," she replied. "I spoke to the relatives she went to go and see, a cousin told me she was on her way to see an aunt. Stopped at an inn for a bite to eat and ask if anyone has seen her. The bartender told me he saw her leave with some stranger earlier in the year. I did go to look for them but I reached a dead end."
"Tell me again why you went searching for Bertha Jorkins?" he asked.
"Because the latest events have been very strange, Al!" she hissed. "I mean, look at it, the woman goes missing, the riot at the world cup and someone tries to change the rules to the Triwizard Tournament. I'm telling ye there is something very bad going on. I think that stranger killed Bertha Jorkins!"
"Now I think you're more paranoid than I am," he groaned. "Anyway, have you told the ministry this?"
"No," she replied. "You're the first I've told."
"What?"
"I've just got back yesterday," she replied.
"Then why did you come to me for?"
"Because you're my partner," she muttered. "Or have you forgotten?"
"We were partners," he corrected harshly. "And we're not even aurors anymore. I thought we both retired."
"Yes, but it is still our duty to investigate these kinds of things!"
"Look, go and tell Fudge what you've found out," he told her. "I'll stay here and keep an eye on Potter."
"Al, what's the matter?" she demanded. "Ye are acting well…really strange."
"I'm fine," he growled, the song ended and he let go of her at once. Madame Indigo sighed and walked over to talk to Lydia.
"Lydia," she said as she approached Seamus and Lydia, "I don't mean to break this up but I've got to talk to ye privately."
"Sure," said Lydia, seeing the urgent in her eyes. "Excuse me, Seamus."
"Okay," Seamus nodded as he released her. "Make sure you bring her back!" he yelled at Madame Indigo as she walked off with Lydia.
Lydia and Madame Indigo walked outside of the Great Hall and stood by the outdoors so they could have a private word and wouldn't be distracted by the music.
"What's wrong?" Lydia asked. "And what're ye doing here anyway?" she added playfully.
"I just got back from looking for Bertha Jorkins," Madame Indigo replied. "I didn't find her but I did get some news. One of the barkeeps I talked to down there said he saw her leave with some stranger."
"What did he look like?" Lydia asked.
"Well, the barkeep gave me a vague description," Madame Indigo said exasperatedly, "a bit on the dumpy side, he told me."
"Could it have been one of the relatives she went to go see?"
"I doubt it," said Madame Indigo. "I think this person probably killed Bertha Jorkins. Her relatives told me she was planning on coming back in time for the World Cup."
"What do you want us to do?" Lydia asked. "Should I go and tell the others?"
She shook her head. "No, this is supposed to be a ball. Go in there and have fun."
"Ye don't think the person who put Harry's name in the goblet wants him dead, do you?" she inquired nervously. "We still think its Bagman. He gave Harry ten points and even offered him help."
"I hope it's Ludo," said Madame Indigo, "but that wouldn't explain the other things that happened this summer. Now I've got to go and tell the ministry."
"But it's Christmas!" Lydia exclaimed. "Who would be working anyway?"
"I'll go to Fudge's house if I have to."
"Can't you stay for a while?" Lydia pleaded. "Seamus and I are going to do a Celtic number later."
"I'm afraid I have to miss it," Madame Indigo sighed, taking her hands. "Tell the girls sorry for me. Ye all look wonderful, by the way!"
"Thank ye," Lydia said.
Madame Indigo kissed her on the cheek and walked out the oak doors into the snowy night. Madame Indigo let out a sad sigh as she trekked out. Why wouldn't Moody understand? Why did he react the way he did?
"Oh Al…"
--
"Mom, thank you so much for the broomstick!" Mina said to her mother as she was dancing with Pierre.
"You're welcome honey," said Mrs. Aino, who was dancing with Bagman. "Glad you like it. Have you tried it out yet?"
"No," Mina replied. "But Cedric Diggory is going to show me tomorrow. He's the Quidditch captain, you know!"
"Ah, that's wonderful," said Bagman.
"Oh, Mom this is Pierre!" Mina said excitedly. "He asked me this morning!"
Pierre smiled at Mina's mother, "Bonjour."
"I'll talk to you later," said Mina's mother. "Mr. Bagman and I have to talk about the tournament."
"Okay."
Susie and Bagman scooted off. Susie looked seriously at Bagman. "Ludo, you're not planning on making any bets with anyone are you?
"Whatever gave you that idea?" he asked in shock. "Did you hear me make any at the first task?"
"I'm serious," said Susie. "You're running out of money and I know about your gambling problem."
"I don't have a gambling problem."
"Yes you do," she insisted. "You probably didn't make any bets at the first task, but how I know you won't make any for the second or third? Or who might win?"
"No but now that you mention it Susie," said Bagman, "I think I can make some bets where Harry Potter lies. I can give him a few pointers and…"
"Ludo, that's cheating!" she shouted. "I never knew you to cheat before!"
"Susie…"
"You're a judge for crying out loud!" she hissed. "He's not even supposed to win."
"Well, I'll make a bet for a Hogwarts victory then," he told her. "I wonder if Diggory's worked out his egg clue."
"Ludo Bagman," she muttered. "You can't!"
"I suppose not."
--
"Hey, Harry," Serena said after their third dance. "Let's go for a walk. I want to look at the decorations."
Harry was improving. He kind of looked like he wanted to continue dancing. However, it was getting warm with all the people standing around and he thought he ought to look at the decorations as well, since they probably wouldn't be back for next Christmas.
"Sure," he replied, stepping back and offering her arm.
The chill was kind of nice. Serena hugged on Harry's arm but not to the point where she was cutting off his circulations as she had done many times to Darien. Serena pointed at the fairies as they flew around the rose bushes.
"They're so pretty," said Serena. "I wonder when we're going to study them for Care of Magical Creature!"
Harry grinned. "Yeah, I'm sure they're a lot easier to look after."
As they continued their moonlit stroll, they heard grown men talking.
"…don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor."
"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff said in a nervous and soft voice. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it—"
Then the two people they probably hoped not to bump into turned the corner. Snape was blasting couples out of the rosebushes. When he saw Serena and Harry, he sneered. "And what are you two doing?"
Worried that he might take points away from Gryffindor as he just did to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, Serena let go of Harry and continued walking.
"Just looking at the decorations, Professor," she muttered, leaving Harry behind. Harry glanced from the two professors to his date and went after Serena.
"Serena, wait up!"
Professor Snape and Karkaroff continued walking around the place. Serena leaned against a statue of a reindeer.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't want Snape to take points from us just for walking around."
"Oh," he said, looking over his shoulder. "I wonder what Karkaroff's worried about. How come he and Snape are on first-name terms?"
"Because they're old work buddies," Serena muttered.
"Huh?" Harry turned to her. "What do you mean?"
"Our Potions professor used to be a Death Eater," she replied. "Karkaroff was one too. Why do you think they teach the Dark Arts in Durmstrang?"
"How'd you know?" Harry asked.
"That lady that was dancing with Moody," said Serena, "she's his old auror partner. She told us all about the death eaters and everything before we came to Hogwarts."
"I wonder what she's doing here," Harry said.
Serena shrugged. "I don't know. Last we heard from her she went looking for Bertha Jorkins."
"The ministry witch that went missing this summer?"
"Yeah," said Serena. "Maybe she found her or reached a dead end. Or maybe she just wanted a break from looking." She turned to the statue. "Anyway, if there was something serious she wanted us to know, she would've told me."
"How come?" Harry inquired, coming closer. "What do you mean?"
Serena sighed. "Well, Harry, it's a long and complicated story. Maybe I'll tell you when I understand it myself."
Harry was about to say something but Serena saw a beetle on the statue's back. "Bug!" she reached her hand on Harry's shoulder for leverage as she took off her shoe to squash the beetle.
"Serena, it's just a beetle!"
The beetle flew off before she could smash it. "Oh well…"
"Don't like bugs, huh?" Harry asked as she put her shoe back on.
"Hate them," she said. "Well, you want to go back in now? I'm starting to feel a bit cold."
"Yeah," he whispered as Serena put her arm through his. He was looking forward to dancing with Serena again. As they started for the steps, they saw Professor McGonagall standing outside. She smiled. "Hello, Potter, Tsukino! Been enjoying the decorations?"
"Yes, Professor," Serena said softly, still surprised by her new appearance. "Um, Professor—you look-well, different."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Professor McGonagall smiled. "Thank you."
"I still can't get over it," Serena said to Harry as they walked back in.
"Over what?"
"Professor McGonagall's new look!" she hissed.
As they entered the Great Hall, the students were standing against the walls. Lydia and Seamus were dancing a traditional Irish routine with other Irish students. Their matching hard-soled shoes rapped every time they hit the floor.
"So that's why Seamus wore those shoes," said Harry.
Serena brought her hands together. "Go Lydia!"
The girls' robes were shortened to their knees and the boys' were replaced with slacks and shiny green shirts, as it would be very difficult to do in dress robes. Lydia jumped about three feet off the ground as she kicked her foot forward, prancing around the floor. Seamus jumped just as high and they clasped arms and started swirling in a circle. The other Irish students tapped their feet amazingly fast. Everyone's eyes were glued to their feet, wondering if they were going to trip. Seamus and Lydia then mingled in the line with them and they made the big finish. The room erupted in applause. Serena went to go hug Lydia as Lydia's robes length went back to normal.
"That was great!" Serena shouted. "Great!"
"Thanks," said Lydia. "We've been practicing all week."
"Come on, Lydia," Seamus said, taking her hand. There were large beads of sweat across his forehead "Let's go for a walk before I overheat!"
"Good idea!" she said, wiping her forehead.
"Snape's out there taking points from an couple he finds kissing," Serena warned. "So be careful, you two!"
"We'll keep that in mind," Lydia said over her shoulder.
As she and Seamus walked outside, they saw Professor McGonagall still standing by the entrance, checking her watch. Seamus looked at his watch. It was half past nine and Lucky wasn't around. Seamus looked at Lydia and nodded over to a nearby bench. Lydia nodded back and walked down the steps, muttering a good evening at Professor McGonagall and they sat down.
"Well, it's working so far," Lydia whispered to Seamus as she pretended to be looking at the decorations. "She even transfigured herself to look forty years younger for it."
"Where's this Lucky guy?" Seamus inquired. "He's late."
"Come on, Lucky," Lydia whispered. "Don't fail me…"
The three guardian cats, in their human forms, were standing behind a tree.
"There she is," said Artemis. "And she's waiting for you."
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Lucky said nervously. He and Artemis were wearing similar 1700 style suits only Artemis' was icy blue and Lucky's was green to match the festive occasion. His hair was pulled back closely, secured with a green bow.
"She's wearing my dress," said Luna, playing with the sleeves of her red dress that looked exactly like McGonagall's.
"Come on, Lucky," Artemis said. "Today is your day. Let's go."
Lucky took in a deep breath. "You two go first."
"No," said Luna. "She's supposed to see you."
"Very well," he groaned and he emerged from the tree. He started walking through the snow to the entrance. As he got closer to McGonagall, he paused. It wasn't the same woman he knew. He looked behind his shoulder. Luna and Artemis motioned at him to keep going. He sighed and continued walking.
"That's him, Seamus!" Lydia hissed in his ear. "That's Lucky!"
"Interesting name for a guy," said Seamus, "more of a name for a cat—like yours."
"I know," said Lydia. "But maybe something happened in his childhood to change his name to Lucky."
McGonagall stared out to the handsome young man in green coming toward her. She walked down the steps and stopped.
'Is that him?' she thought. 'Could it be?'
'She's looking at me,' Lucky thought. 'Maybe it is her. But how?'
McGonagall peered behind him and saw a couple arm in arm. 'I wonder who they are,' she thought.
What seemed to be an eternity, Lucky finally approached Professor McGonagall. He looked at her for a while, trying furiously to find his voice.
"Minerva?" he whispered.
Professor McGonagall nodded. "You must be Mr. Seven."
"Please," he said, "call me Lucky."
"Tell me," said McGonagall, "How did you get the name Lucky?"
Lucky looked around and tried to find something romantic to say. He smiled and took her hand. "Moments like this…only luck could've brought us together like this."
Professor McGonagall smiled back as he bent down to kiss her hand.
"However, I'm afraid I wasn't lucky with the time," he added quickly. "Forgive me for being late?"
"But of course," she said, her eyes connecting with his. She saw the rainbow birthmark on his on his forehead. His eyes looked so familiar. "I know you from somewhere."
"Well, we have met," he said.
"Yes, you said I might know you in your letter," she said softly. "You're the cat I saw…"
"I don't know what she's talking about!" Seamus muttered.
"Shh!" hushed Lydia.
He nodded.
"I did not know you were also an Animagus," she said.
Artemis and Luna came up behind Lucky. Lucky stepped back so he could introduce them. "These are my friends."
"Who are they?" said Seamus. "We didn't say anything about friends coming."
"Let's go, Seamus," said Lydia, standing up and pulling on his arm. "I want to look at the decorations. There are fairies out here, Seamus! Look!"
"But Lydia," he said as she pulled him away.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Minerva. "Thank you for coming."
"Nice dress," said Luna awkwardly.
McGonagall smiled. "Thank you. Yours as well."
"Shall we go in, Minerva?" Lucky inquired.
"Yes," McGonagall answered as she took his arm and they walked inside. Artemis and Luna smiled each other and followed McGonagall and Lucky in.
--
The scouts were happy to see the guardian cats come in the Great Hall in their human forms. People looked at them, wondering who they were. They were surprised to see a teacher on the ginger haired man's arm.
"Why is Professor McGonagall with that man?" Harry asked Serena as they were dancing.
"Can't you see, Harry?" Serena said with pleasant smile. "He's her date! So that's why she went through all that effort to look so young and beautiful today!"
Professor McGonagall and Lucky started dancing. They stared deeply into each other's eyes. Lucky felt bad. He wanted to tell her who he really was but he wasn't sure if she'd understand and he'd be giving away the scouts' identities.
'Just dance with her, Lucky,' he thought. 'Just dance with her tonight and you'll come up with what to do later.'
"Artemis," Luna smiled, "I think we've brought them back together!"
"There's certainly a lot of people in here," Artemis said, looking around the room. "I hope no one recognizes us. They're staring at us, Luna."
"Oh, stop it," Luna muttered. "They are not."
It took a while for the people to stop looking at the mysterious people that just walked in.
Ami was surprised at how much Ron was talking. He wouldn't stop. He kept saying jokes and telling her about Quidditch. It didn't' really seem to bother her because she wasn't sure what to talk about. Suddenly, his voice went solemn.
"I'm sorry about my dress robes," he said. "My mom got them for me second hand."
"What's wrong with them?" she asked. "They look all right to me, just a little frayed at the sleeves."
"There was lace on them," he explained. "I had to take it off with a Severing Charm. Looked too much like a dress and I don't like maroon. My mom keeps forgetting how much I hate it." He glanced at Percy. "Percy's the only one in the family that can afford decent robes. He's my mother's favorite."
"How come?"
"Because he's perfect," Ron groaned.
"But nobody is perfect, Ron," Ami told him. "I'm sure your brother has some flaws."
"Probably," said Ron. "He's just really good at hiding them, seems like."
The song ended and he glanced at the doors. "Let's go for a walk Ami, before it gets too cold."
"Er…" she said, feeling warmth in her cheeks.
"Just a short one," he urged as he put her hand on his arm and took her away before she could say another word. Her friends flashed the shy girl a smile as she left.
Vladimir and Raye went to a table with some butterbeers. As they were talking, Sofia limped toward them.
"Sofia, what's wrong?" Vladimir inquired.
"I was dancing with Gregory Goyle," she said as she sat down to massage her foot. "And he kept stepping on my feet."
Raye sprayed the table with butterbeer. "Goyle? From Slytherin? He was stepping on your feet and you continued to dance with him?"
"Well, we both didn't have partners," she shrugged. "I don't know…I kind of haff a thing for big guys."
"Yeah he's big," said Raye, "big and stupid!"
"Where is he?" Vladimir demanded, jumping to his feet and taking out his wand. "I'm going to transfigure him into a naked dog and chain him outside to freeze!"
All shyness left him and he looked absolutely furious.
"Vladimir, it's okay!" Sofia cried, putting her shoe back on and standing up. "It's all right. Listen, he didn't curse me, he just stepped on my foot one two many times."
"No one hurts my little sister!"
"Little?" Sofia snapped, putting her hand on her hip.
"I was born first!" he muttered, scanning the crowd. "Raye, voo is Goyle? Vare is he?"
"Ummm," said Raye.
"You're only older by five minutes," Sofia said. "Look, I'm feeling tired. I'm going to go for a valk around the grounds and go back to the ship."
"I'll go viz you," he said quickly, putting his wand in his robes.
"No, you stay here viz Raye," Sofia said gently. "The ball's not over."
Raye however thought it was better for Vladimir to go with Sofia. Though she would kind of like to see Vladimir cast a spell on Goyle, she didn't want him have to be sent to Durmstrang early. She stood up.
"It's okay, Sofia," Raye said softly. "You can't walk around Hogwarts with your foot hurting. Vladimir can go with you"
"Voo don't mind?" Sofia asked.
Raye shook her head. "Go ahead."
"I vill come back," Vladimir said to Raye.
Raye shook her head. "It's okay, Vladimir. Go ahead and put something on your sister's foot."
"Thank you, Raye," Vladimir said.
"Not a problem," Raye smiled. "I'll see you two later."
"Merry Christmas," said Sofia as she walked out of the room, with Vladimir supporting her weight.
"Draco sweetie," Pansy said to Draco in a voice coated with sugar. "I'm going to go to the bathroom."
"It's all right," Draco said, glancing over to Raye, thankful that she was alone. "Take all the time you need."
Pansy smiled at him as she left with her gang of Slytherin girls. Draco immediately approached Raye's table.
"Hello, Raye," he said softly. "You are looking quite lovely this evening."
Raye rolled her eyes at Draco and sat down. "What do you want, Draco?"
"To talk," he said but he remained standing. "So, are you enjoying yourself with that Durmstrang chap?" He so badly wanted to say prat but he knew it would anger Raye. Of course, he liked it when she got angry but he didn't want to risk it now. He was going to pry her out of that seat so he could dance with her somehow.
"His name's Vladimir," she hissed.
"Where is he?" he inquired.
"Your elephant-footed friend mashed his sister's feet," Raye said, glancing up at him with a sneer, "so he's taking her back to the ship."
"Oh, I see," he said. "Yes, I told Crabbe and Goyle they wouldn't make good dancers. So, when will your partner be returning?"
"Not until tomorrow morning, probably," she retorted. "He is really doting of his sister, you see and I insisted that he should go before he transfigured Goyle into a naked dog and chain him outside."
"Ah, that would be interesting to see," said Draco.
Raye was starting to hope she didn't tell Vladimir to go. She wouldn't meet Draco's gaze.
"So you will be without a partner for the rest of the evening?" he asked with a slight frown.
"That's really none of your business," she said, wishing she had just gone back to the common room.
"Oh, so you will be."
"Go away, Malfoy," she groaned.
"Shame."
Raye rolled her eyes, hoping Malfoy wasn't going to say what she thought he was going to say. She put her chin in her hand.
"Well, Pansy has just gone to the girls bathroom," he informed, nodding to the door, "and I suppose she won't be back for some time. Care to dance with me, Raye?"
Raye's elbow slipped off the table and she looked at Draco in shock. Was he joking?
To Be ContinuedMuwahahaha! You'll have to open your other present later! Sorry, but it ended up being to long. I had to split it because I'm going to add some more about the dance. Merry Christmas!