Last Time on Black and White:

"... would you like to go with me?" he saw himself asking her to the ball again and watched her accept, and when he disappeared around the corner he saw her give a small air punch in celebration, he smiled at that.

"Are you guys going to stare at each other all night or are you going to introduce us?!" Cedric called out.

Andrew blinked as did Su, she looked at him in confusion for a moment and Andrew returned the look before she shook her head slightly and smiled at the others waiting behind him.

After speaking for a few more minutes Professor McGonagall appeared and addressed the champions and their dates. They were about to enter the hall now. They lined up and got ready to get this party started.


Book 4 – Chapter 27: The Ball Begins

The champions and they're dates were led into the hall with quite a bit of fan fair; confetti, and the judges and students clapping their hands as they were led to the front of the hall, where the teacher's table had been set up to accommodate them as well a few Ministry officials as well as the judges.

Once they were seated Dumbledore stood to address everyone present.

"Welcome one and all, to the Yule Ball. I hope you all have a lovely time and find yourselves enjoying the festivities. Now, I believe we are all rather peck-ish, shall we?" he said with a smile and gestured out with his arms.

All the tables were then provided with a menu, and as the Headmaster took his seat the chatter amongst the students began.

Andrew turned to Su and whispered.

"Hey, are you okay? You looked a bit... out of it before we came in." he asked with a frown.

Su turned to regard him for a moment.

"I'm fine for now, we'll discuss it a little later, okay?" she whispered back. Andrew nodded and reached out grabbing her hand with his own, and giving it a squeeze. He felt her return the squeeze and smile at him.

They then turned to the menu and Andrew blinked.

"This is quite the selection." he said with a small whistle of appreciation.

"Oui, I 'ope ze food iz enjoyable zo." Fleur voice said beside him.

"Oh? That sounds like you doubt our House Elves." Harry challenged with a small smile.

"Hmm, zen, shall we make a bet?" she asked with a small quirk of her eyebrow.

"I'm listening." Harry responded.

Andrew watched the two for a moment with a small frown. Were they flirting with one another? He knew they were friendly from all the times the brothers had spoken to Fleur in the past but... what the hell? Where did this version of Harry come from?

"If ze food is, less zan stellar you must do somezing I decide, if I find it to be good, I will do what you decide."

Harry seemed to think on it for a moment before responding.

"How will I know you won't lie?"

"Oh, are you saying you don't trust me?" Fleur asked with a small pout.

Andrew turned away from the two and turned back to his menu.

"So, what are you thinking of having?" he asked his date.

"Hmm, I think I'll have the Chicken Ala King, with steamed vegetables and pumpkin juice." Su said, and smiled when the food she described appeared on her plate.

"In that case, I'll have the steak, medium rare, some vegetables as well and a glass of chilled butter beer." Andrew requested, and was rewarded with the food appearing before him.

As they continued eating the champions began speaking to one another.

"So, how are you guys finding the tournament so far?" Cho asked directing her question to the others at the table.

"Challenging, who ever thought fighting a nesting Dragon was a good idea..." Cedric said with a small shake of his head.

"Oui, I agree, zo, it was what I was expecting." Fleur added as she neatly bit off a carrot from her fork.

"I still think it's bloody stupid and a waste of time. Want to foster good relationships between schools? How about you start something similar that takes place every few years and instead of death defying challenges for a single person of that school, come up with events that somehow include more of the students, thus ensuring interaction from all the students instead of just three, but you know that's just my opinion." Andrew answered, not hiding his disdain for the whole affair.

"Wouldn't that just cause more rifts?" Harry asked once he swallowed his own food.

"No, I see where Andrew's coming from. The entirety of the schools are pressuring one student to win for their school, that's a lot of pressure and I imagine doesn't help that school pride would cause them to butt heads with other schools if their champion lost or won, but if more were involved and it was more of a volunteer situation, then I think that pride would then turn to healthy, competition. Eventually leading to more friends being made." Hermione jumped in.

"So essentially, this tournament could be tearing our schools apart rather than bringing them together?" Cedric asked.

"No necessarily, I think with the friendly way at which you all interact with Miss Delacour, Beauxbatons would see you all as friends, you could probably go speak with any one of them and find them willing to speak with you, but on the other hand, it's no secret that Andrew and Krum can barely stand one another, so there would be animosity between Hogwarts and Durmstrang." Su clarified with a shrug. "But ultimately I think it would be interesting to see Andrew's idea of a more team orientated tournament. With less deadly challenges though."

There was a beat of silence at mention of the clear dislike of the two champions but Cedric nodded along with what she had said.

"So it could work either way. But the other way is better."

"Not better." Andrew said as he took a sip of his drink. "Just less deadly, obviously I have no idea what it would take to organise something like that, but I think it should be something governments should look into if they want to continue tournaments like this. And if they were less deadly and people openly volunteered to participate, you wouldn't have a repeat of the major fuck up that happened like this." he added.

"You mean cheaters." Krum's said with little tact.

Andrew regarded the seventh year for a moment before turning to Harry.

"You see how he goads me?"

"Just let it go, don't start something. Not tonight. Please." Harry said shooting his brother a pleading look.

"Andrew, I agree wiz your brozzer, you don't want to ruin ze night for your date, do you?"

Andrew turned back to Su who looked at him, her eyes softly seeking out his own. He sighed and shook his head.

"Fine, I won't say anything... let's get back to our supper shall we?" he asked with a smile.

HP-AP-HP-AP-HP-AP

Once supper had ended the students were allowed to mingle for a bit chatting to their peers and Ministry officials before the dance began. Harry and Fleur were joined by Viktor Krum and Hermione.

"That was a lovely meal." they heard Hermione say to Krum, who nodded in agreement.

"Hello you two." Harry greeted.

"Hey Harry, Fleur. Enjoy your supper?"

"Oui, it was lovely. 'Arry, would you be a dear and get me some punch?" she asked turning to her date.

"Of course."

"'Ermione, would you not like some?" she asked looking at the girl in question.

Sensing the unasked request to speak privately, Hermione nodded and asked Viktor to go with Harry to get her a drink. Once the two men left Fleur turned to Hermione with a smile.

"So, are you enjoying your date?"

"Err, yes, I'm having a good time." she answered with a slight frown.

"Now, I 'ope, you know I do not ask zis to be rude or mean, but why did you agree to come wiz Krum if you know 'e and Andrew don't get along?"

Hermione sighed and lowered her head a bit.

"Well, he asked me first, I didn't think Andrew would and to be honest, Viktor is quite sweet to me. I personally don't have a problem with him."

"Hmm, I can see zat. Well, do you zink Andrew will be okay? 'e seems razzer... tense."

"Well, I mean, I assume so, Su's been able to keep him in check so far, and I suppose if those two don't butt heads on the dance floor or something, nothing should go wrong." Hermione responded with a small shrug.

"Oui, I 'ope so."

"By the way, do you know why they're... you know, so against one another?"

Fleur sighed tiredly. "Oui, I suspect it 'appened when ze names were selected. Andrew was upset and called ze tournament a joke in front of Krum and 'is 'eadmaster. Zey did not take it well."

"But why, I mean even you agree that it's dangerous and kind of a dumb premiss, right?"

Fleur was silent for a moment before she spoke again.

"To a degree, oui, but when ze two went to defend ze tournament, Andrew basically called zem idiots. Krum is a proud person, 'e would take zat as a personal attack, even if Andrew wasn't in 'is right state of mind."

"So the interview in the paper?"

"Probably due to 'is pride."

"And since he took it public, Andrew feels no reason to hold his tongue around him." Hermione rationalised with a sigh. "Why are boys so stupid?"

"We may never know." Fleur responded with a slight chuckle.

"Before the boys get back, a quick question of my own; you and Harry. What's happening there?" she asked with a small grin.

Fleur seemed to think on that for a moment before responding.

"'E is cute. I'm 'aving fun wiz 'im. I don't know, 'onestly, I was expecting 'im to be tongue tied when I started flirting wiz 'im, but 'e is giving as good as 'e is getting. So I am not sure." she answered honestly.

Hermione nodded. "I never thought I'd see Harry flirt like that, and by the looks Andrew was shooting at the two of you, it seemed as though he wasn't expecting that either."

Just then the two boys returned with drinks for the girls and asked what they had missed, they were met with giggles from the girls and nothing else.

Andrew and Su were trapped, they both wanted to get away, but bloody Percy Weasley wouldn't let them. Well honestly, Andrew would be more than happy to leave the ponce chatting away mid-sentence, but Penny was there and he hadn't seen her in so long.

"... so I have to ask, Potter. What did you do to Mister Crouch?"

Andrew blinked and was brought back to reality, he honestly missed everything the guy had said, but he really didn't want to hear all again, so he just went with it.

"I'm sorry I blacked out. Uhm but to answer your question; yes."

"Wha-"

"Anyway, Penny! How are you?! We haven't spoken in so long, did you get that interview you spoke about last year?"

The former Ravenclaw chuckled at Andrew and answered.

"Yes, it has been a while, I'm doing good, Percy and I have been happy. The interview, yes, and I start at Cambridge law in the spring. I'm really excited." she said with a large smile.

"Cambridge law? That's where my mother went." Su spoke up turning to the girl.

"Well, yes I would imagine so, seeing how she was the one to give me the recommendation."

"So, you're the bright young girl mother spoke of? You apprenticed under her for a while didn't you?"

"Yep, she was seeing whether I had the forethought to study up on at least some laws. Actually, her first assignment for me was the book issue for you and your brother."

"Oh Brill!" Andrew responded with a laugh.

They heard Percy huff in annoyance.

"Honestly, suing honest people simply trying to make a living. That's low even for you."

There was a beat of silence before Andrew spoke.

"Honest people don't use the names of others to make a profit then not compensate the people their exploiting. Honestly Percy, you work for the Ministry and practically get a hard on for everything rule related, but apparently you over look basic exploitation."

"I think we should go." Su said shooting Percy a dark look. "Penny it was nice to finally meet you, and I wish you luck in your studies."

Penny looked put out by her boyfriend's words before turning to Andrew and Su and smiled.

"Thank you, Su. And Andrew, we should write, I miss your cynical outlook on life, also send Catherine a letter as well, she'd die before she admitted it, but I know she misses your sarcasm."

Andrew stopped glaring at the red head and shot Penny a smile.

"Maybe I should, bye Penn, good luck and get your law degree!"

As the two walked away Andrew quickly grabbed Su's arm and led her to a corner where they could speak privately.

"Could you please tell me what's wrong? You've been rather odd since before we came in here."

Su seemed to have a mental debate before looking at Andrew.

"What do you know about Legillimency?"

"Not much except that it goes hand in hand with Occlumency."

"Right, and you know Legillimency without the consent of the person whose thoughts you're searching is an invasion of privacy right?"

"Actually no I didn't know that, but it makes sense, peaking around in someone's head is rather intimate."

"Well then, why did you do it to me?" Su asked looking into his eyes with a stern look.

"Do what to you?"

"Why did you perform Legillimency on me, without my consent?"

Andrew blinked before his eyes widened in shock.

"I'm sorry, I did what?!"