Chapter 8
The next morning, Harry, Ron and Hermione headed towards their first lesson, charms. And as they began their lesson, the talk started, as usual. "So" said Ron, "who're you taking to the ball?" "What?" Harry looked at him, "the ball is too far from now" Harry didn't want to go to this ball, not even want to think about it. "But you should decide about that from now" Ron said, "because you'll be in a problem if the time should come" "I just don't want to talk about it now" Harry said suddenly and angrily. For some reason, Hermione didn't want to join the discussion, and she looked a little annoyed.
Ron felt the anger and didn't press the matter any longer, he turned to Hermione. "What's wrong, Hermione?" he asked her, frowning. "Nothing" she said, a little too quickly, not meeting Ron's eyes.
The common room was crowded; nearly all the Gryffindors were reading a sign that was pinned on the notice board all over the castle.
The Outin Ball
Will be held tomorrow night
(Christmas Night)
Only to those who are above
Thirteen
In the Great Hall
Thank you
The students who will invite someone from outside the school,
Please visit your head of house
The note was put up last night. Harry sat with Ron beside the fire place, as Hermione was sitting with Ginny on the other side of the common room. "What are you going to do?" Harry asked Ron, "well" Ron said, frowning, "I'm going to ask someone" he said. They both went silent, and after a minute they both got up in the same time. "Oh" Ron said, "where are you going?" he asked Harry, frowning. "To professor McGonagall" Harry said, "OK" Ron said, and then he went to Hermione and sat in the chair next to her, that was empty now. Harry headed off to McGonagall's Office and knocked on the door. "Come in" a voice answered. Harry entered her office and saw her writing on a peace of parchment. She looked up as Harry closed the door behind him. "Oh Potter, what's wrong?" she said, frowning. "Oh, I…I came for the…the note?" he said to her. Professor McGonagall seemed to be thinking for a moment and then she said, "Oh, you mean about the ball" she ushered him to sit. "I didn't expect you'll invite someone from outside, I thought you'll ask a girl from here, like…Miss Granger…I mean I didn't know there was someone" she finished, frowning slightly.
"Oh" Harry began, "I do have someone from outside" he said, looking at her. "Well" she said, taking a peace of parchment from inside one of the drawers, "in that case, I'll have to take some information about her". She picked up her quill. "So?" she said, looking at Harry, "what's her name?" she asked. Harry thought, for a moment he forgot her name and then it came to him. "Christina…er…Ander…Anderson" he said. "Ok" professor McGonagall said, "and she's a witch, for sure?"
"Well" Harry said, "she's kind-of still hasn't entered any school…but she's a witch, yeah" Harry saw McGonagall's face form a deep frown. "I don't remember sending a letter to her, if she really was a witch"
"Oh, she won't come here, she won't be studying at Hogwarts" Harry lied, "she's heading to…another school". He was now in trouble. "Another school? You mean Beauxbatons or Durmstrang?" she asked, still frowning. Harry didn't know any of the names she mentioned, not even understood them. He thought for a moment and then just said, "Durmstrang". "Oh" she looked uncertainly at Harry, but she wrote something on the parchment. "Well" McGonagall continued, "where does she live?" she asked. "the Burrow…I mean Ron's house" he answered. "Really?" McGonagall said, "And why is she there?" "Well" he began, "her parents are out of the country, traveling, and…and she's staying there in the mean time". "Ok" McGonagall said, writing another thing down. "Well, Mr. Potter, we're finished, you could just send her a letter and invite her, or you could send one of those special invitations of Hogwarts" she said, pointing at a sack of envelops at the far corner of the office. "no thanks" Harry said, standing up quickly. "I'll just send a letter…thanks professor…I…I'll go now…bye" Harry ran to the door and headed quickly towards the Gryffindor common room. Professor McGonagall seemed to be unsure when he looked at her the last moment, but he was relieved that the lie had slipped passed McGonagall. When he entered the common room he found Ron and Hermione sitting at the same places before. He went to them and sat beside Ron. "Why did you go to McGonagall, Harry?" Hermione asked, and Harry noticed an invisible smile was on her face, but she wasn't smiling, and her voice was cheery more than the usual. "The note, what else" he said, looking at her with a frown. "The note? Are going to invite someone from outside?" she seemed to come to herself again. "Who?" "Chris" Harry said, simply. "Oh" Hermione said, looking relieved about something. "And what did professor McGonagall ask you?" "Nothing" he said, shrugging. "Well, I'm off to bed" she said, "You're going to sleep now?" Ron asked her, frowning, "but it's still…" but she said, "I'm not going to sleep, I'm going to do my homework there, because I can't concentrate here, with all the noise" she hurried to the girls dormitory and disappeared inside. "Hey Ron, what happened to you?" Harry asked, smiling. "What?" Ron said. "Did you ask someone?" Harry said, looking at Ron. "I…I did…yeah" he said, and Harry noticed his cheeks going red. "who?" Harry said, the smile faded, and was replaced with a frown and a puzzling expression. "Hermione" said Ron suddenly, "I asked Hermione".