Chapter Thirty One
Stupid Cupid
The Great Hall was noisy as usual. Even at breakfast time the noise level was thunderous. Dumbledore stood behind the teachers table and with little effort silenced the room.
"I have an announcement to make. As you probably all know tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and I thought I would use it as means to bring our houses together. All are to attend a ball with a member of a different house. If you already are dating someone from a different house you may go with them. If not some one will be selected for you. All students wishing to pick their partners may inform me before lunch, those who do not will receive an owl with the person picked for them."
Dumbledore sat down and the noise level rose instantly.
"He has lost his bloody mind." Ron complained
" Does he have any idea what a mess this is going to be?" Hermione put in.
"I don't want to go to this dance" Ginny whined.
"Me either" responded Harry.
"Think we should try to pick someone?" Ron questioned
"Nah, its only going to be embarrassing, better to let him pick and then we have a right to be mad"
"I agree with Harry" Hermione added nodding her head.
The group of friends continued to complain about the dance until the bell rang and they were forced to go to their classes, At least for all of them that meant Transfiguration with Mc Gonagall.
The group made their way to the classroom, still stressing over the turn of events. Didn't Dumbledore learn two years ago with the Tri-wizard tournament that this mixing of houses just did not work.
"Today in honor of Valentine's Day I thought we would Transfigure these toads into love birds," A groan filled the classroom. "Tut, tut that's no way to behave about such a joyous occasion."
Everyone settled down some and took to changing the ugly toads into lovebirds. Not an easy task it seemed as everyone was having trouble. Maybe it was because of the lack of joy in them as Mc Gonagall had called it. At long last the group managed to pull it off ,although it took almost the whole class to do so. Mc Gonagall seemed please and they were grateful although no one understood why she was so happy. Perhaps she enjoyed watching them all suffer. Maybe her and Dumbledore had cooked up this scheme together.
All to soon it was lunch time and silence filled the room once more when hundreds of owls entered the room dropping the same tan envelope in everyone's lap. Shrieks of terror and shock erupted from the students when they opened the letter.
Harry Potter you have been selected to go to the ball with
Padma Patil of Ravenclaw.
Formal clothing should be worn and you should
meet your escort outside of the Great Hall at 8 O'clock
Everyone got the same letter, with the names changed. Hermione was selected to go with Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff. Ron got stuck with Daphne Greengrassfrom Slytherin. Ginny started to cry when she opened her letter. Hermione took it from her.
"It can't be that bad Ginny…" Hermione dropped off as she read the letter.
Ginny Weasley you have been selected to go to the ball with
Draco Malfoy of Slytherin.
Formal clothing should be worn and you should
meet your escort outside of the Great Hall at 8 O'clock
"Oh Ginny don't cry its only one night."
"But with him, of all the students in the school I get him." Ginny sobbed trying to get herself under control.
"Just make his life hell sis." Ron offered
Ginny forced a smile shoving the letter into her bag.
"Try not to jinx him on the dance floor, king bat will not be happy"
Hermione got a buggered off look on her face with Ron's comment but let it pass, no point in drawing attention to herself. The bell rang and everyone got up to leave. Heading back to their common rooms to be annoyed in peace or cry out their sorrow among friends.