Deal with the Devil
"Honestly, what kind of man decides to allow a fourteen-year-old to compete in such a dangerous mission!"
"Ow!"
"In all my years of healing patients, I have never come across men that are so…insolent!"
"Madame Pomfrey-"
"You know what, when that article from Rita Skeeter first came out, I thought she was talking rubbish, but the more I watched from the sides, the more I realised how awful it must be for you - "
"I think I'm going to faint."
"Oh! Sorry!" Madam Pomfrey stopped wrapping a bandage around Ila's arm. She was stuck in the Hospital Wing, with the rest of the Champions, currently living out the rest of the high that she was on after getting through the First Task.
And also for not getting burnt to a crisp.
It was fairly busy, with many friends of the Champions gathering around the beds of each, congratulating them or retelling them how they felt at every second. Outside, Ila heard Dumbledore, Fudge and Bagman talk to reporters, answering any questions they had on behalf of the champions. From what Ila could hear, it sounded mostly like Bagman answering the questions. The doors to the Hospital Wing opened slightly, a man with a large camera entered the room, taking pictures of everything he saw.
Noticing the periodical flashes in the corner of her eyes, Madame Pomfrey looked up to see the man and immediately rushed over to the man.
"Excuse me! Can you not read the sign? It says no one apart from students and professors are allowed to enter! Are you a student? Are you a professor? No, so leave!" Madam Pomfrey began to escort the man out, when he decided it would be a good idea to retaliate, dodging her and running over to the hospital beds where the Champions were. Since Ila was the closest, he managed to snap a couple of pictures of her looking confused, with her friends being surprised before the curtains around her bed snapped shut.
"Do you think this is going to happen all the time now?" Ron asked. Ila didn't know how to answer it without sounding like she bragging. Her reunion with Ron was still fresh, and could easily stop if she said the wrong thing.
"Of course it is, Ron, she's a champion now, isn't she?" Hermione said, lazily flicking through the Daily Prophet. On the front cover, was the same woman that Ila had seen before. Slicked hair, depressed face, happy husband.
"They still haven't found her yet?" Ila asked, motioning towards the picture on the front page. She could hear people shouting outside of the curtain.
"Hmm? No," Hermione said, checking the picture. "They were talking about how they were going to give up because it doesn't seem like she disappeared, but her husband doesn't want to."
"He doesn't want to come to terms that his wife's a cheater?" Ron asked.
"She isn't a cheater Ron," Hermione said, quite hotly. "The reason why her husband doesn't want to stop is that there're just some weird details about her disappearance that no one apart from the" – Hermione picked up a magazine that was on Ila's bedside table as a present from one of the students – "Quibbler that talk about it."
"Like what?"
"A couple of weeks into her disappearance, while searchers were looking for any possible traces," Hermione said, reading off the article from the Quibbler, "one of them came across a ring that seemed to be a wedding ring that John Dawlish gave to Lauren, except that wasn't the only thing that they found. Attached to the ring was the dead body of Florence Shaw, Lauren's mother, and beside her was Lauren's cat. Apparently, when the body was taken out, they found strange markings all over her body, which seemed to be like runic markings as if her mother was involved in some sort of botched ritual. The strangest thing was that her body was completely drained of blood -"
"Oh, that's too much information," Ron said, grabbing the bin beside Ila, that was for her when she needed to throw up.
"That's sick!" Ila said. "What're people thinking then?"
"Apparently," Hermione said, skimming the article, "they think it's a coincidence. They still believe that her disappearance had nothing to do with this. Or some people are beginning to think that maybe she was behind all of it and that's why she disappeared. There's also a small number of people that believe she disappeared because, remember the cult that she was looking into – the Sisters of Heliopolis. They think they got her and killed her as they did with her mother and cat. I'm pretty sure that was the group she was looking into…"
Well, there goes the high from all her adrenaline.
"Potter-"
"ARGH!" Ron screamed, throwing the bin towards Malfoy, who opened the curtains. He swiftly dodged the bin, smirking at Ron's reaction.
"Nice throw Weasel."
"What hell are you doing here Mal…foy?" Ron finished lamely, unable to think of an insulting nickname for him in time.
"I promised Potter a little chat."
"Look, I don't know what's gotten into you, with your pretend - "
"Ron!" Hermione hissed, pulling his shoulder to move him away from Malfoy.
"Mione, can't you see that I'm in the middle of something?" he muttered. Malfoy looked bored as he watched Hermione whisper something into Ron's ear that made him look more relaxed and step away from Malfoy. "If you cross the line with her - "
"You'll do whatever it takes to ruin me," he said flatly, before pulling the curtain slightly to allow her friends to walk out. They slowly did, Hermione letting Ila know that they'll be outside, while Ron was busy glaring at Malfoy to say anything encouraging. The moment the curtain closed the gap, he raised his wand.
"Muffalito!"
"What was that for?"
"Privacy," Malfoy said simply. He stood where he was, staring at Ila. She supposed that if she was going keep this act up, she would have to thank him.
"I – er – I never got the chance to thank you," Ila said quietly, internally throwing up. She doesn't want to be a seductress anymore. "If you – I didn't have a plan until this morning…if I hadn't gotten that badge, I'm not too sure what I would have done, to be honest…"
Malfoy nodded slowly, taking everything she said in before walking to her. He took a chair that Ron had been sitting down on and pulled it close to her.
"Don't thank me just yet," he said quietly, even though there was a charm that stopped everyone from listening in to their conversation. "Remember when I told you that I'll tell you everything if you survived?"
He means the whole reason why Ila was going through this whole plan sucking up to him just so she can know what You Know Who is doing?
"Yeah," she said. "It rings a bell."
Malfoy sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He looked stressed. Why does he look stressed? Is he going to tell her? Ila did her best to look casual as possible. Maybe she doesn't have to keep this up for that long anyway. Please have him tell me everything, she silently pleaded with the Universe.
"There's something I need you to do for me," he said.
"What? Why? I thought you were going to tell me."
"I am – I will, it's just…I need some help with something…if I tell you everything then I'm not too sure you'll want to help me afterwards…and I need someone to help me."
"What is it?" she said, starting to get suspiciously, and slowly backed away from him.
"Nothing like that," he tutted. "Look, I can't tell you now – it'll take too long anyway…I just – I just – if I tell you to do something, will you do it?"
Was this the Plan? His Plan? What would You Know Who want her to do that Malfoy couldn't? Unless…unless this was the bait…maybe she'll have to do something in the Forbidden Forest, where Voldemort, his followers will all be there, waiting for her…
"Look Mal – Draco," she said, quickly correcting her mistake, "I know that…I – I can't just trust you immediately…as much as I believe that you have changed – it's a bit hard - "
"Right…I get it…but…" Malfoy looked up to the sky, hesitating before looking back at Ila. He pulled his chair closer to her until her legs were touching his. "I won't hurt you. You have my word."
While she knew that meant basically nothing from him…she's supposed to be infatuated with him. She's supposed to blindly believe him. And anyway, if he does have a crush on her – he must have some conflicted feelings about giving her away to Voldemort so that He can hurt her. Merlin, she did not want to be in his head.
"Ok…I believe you," she said before holding up her pinkie.
"What're you doing?" he asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.
Striking a deal with the Devil.
"I take my promises seriously," she said sternly, showing that if he even made the slightest judgement, she'll back out. "Link your pinkie with mine."
He slowly did so. He stopped momentarily before linking his finger with hers. Ila glanced at his face. It was neutral. He was probably loving this. She could throw up.
"Repeat after me," Ila said, sitting up straighter, ignoring Malfoy's glance at her chest, "I, Draco – do you have a middle name?"
"Lucius."
"Weird," Ila muttered before realising she wasn't supposed to say that aloud. She wasn't sure if it was her facial expression or what she had actually said that made Malfoy chuckled slightly.
"Er – I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, promise to not harm or let Ila Janan Potter come into any harm," Ila said. She raised her thumb to him, motioning for him to do the same. The two connected. "Usually at this point, Ron and Hermione would kiss our thumbs but - "
"What does it mean?" Malfoy asked curiously.
"What does what mean?"
"You name," he said.
Ila narrowed her eyes at him. At least internally. Externally she looked flattered. This is what she gets for making a deal with a guy who has a –
You know…
"Well, Ila means earth…Janan – I don't know about that one…apparently…" Ila hesitated before spoke. She needed for him to think she was falling for him. "My – my dad wanted his name to be my middle name but my mum wouldn't have it so they came to a comprise to find the girl version of his name that was still had Kashmiri origins…"
"What's that?"
Ila choked on her spit. It had been a long time since she talked to someone so…uncultured.
"A place in India. Well, half of it anyway…it's a long story."
"Right," he said. Why did he sound so genuine? Why does he actually care? "What about Potter?"
Ila shrugged. "Dunno, some English guy married into my dad's side years ago and they just kept the name since."
"I was going to say Potter doesn't sound very Indian."
Yeah, cos you're such an expert in everything Indian…just because you finally have a crush on an Indian girl and not a white one and probably can't handle the idea that –
"Yeah, you're very observant," she said through gritted teeth. It was then, did she realise their hands were still linked. She never knew how cold her hands were until she was near him. He was always so warm. She unlinked her fingers with his. She could feel just how cold the other fingers were compared to her thumb and pinkie.
"So will you do it? Help me I mean?" he asked.
"You promised that I won't get hurt," Ila said slowly, trying to gauge any reaction from his face. "I'll promise to help you."
Malfoy's brows raised momentarily, before nodding, confirming to himself that Ila would actually help him. She wanted to help him. Does this mean…
No. Don't get too excited, he told himself. He wiped his palms on his trousers and stood up. At that point, her friends had enough with the privacy or perhaps they were somewhat frightened for what Malfoy would have done to her and opened the curtains. Weasel was shocked to see that Ila was in fact perfectly fine.
Well as fine as you can be after defeating a Hungarian Horntail with nothing but a green badge and thoughtless bravery.
Granger on the other hand stared at him, her nose scrunched as he saw the thoughts run across her mind as if she knew something that the others didn't. Malfoy didn't stick around to find and left the three there.
For the first time in months, Ila had the best time of her life at Hogwarts. Everyone cheered her every time she entered the Great Hall, people would high five her as she walked to classes and there were even people wanting her autograph. Some even wanted Ron and Hermione's, the former being far too enthusiastic especially when a couple of Beauxbaton students asked too. But Ila let it slide, happy that Ron was getting the attention he wanted that caused them to have a fight in the first place. There also hadn't been any more articles from Rita Skeeter. In fact, there wasn't anything about the Tournament apart from a small paragraph on page eleven, outlining the challenge and everyone's placing. Even all her teachers finally starting to be nice to her once more, Professor Sprout smiling at her for once for correctly managing her Wiggentree and even gave her 10 house points. The same couldn't be said for a certain slimy, greasy-haired professor that couldn't care less if she slayed ten dragons.
"Potter!" Snape barked. "Do you think making silly faces at the Slytherins would save you if you got poisoned?"
"With the way, some of them look…probably not…" Ila muttered, making Ron snigger.
"Did you say anything?"
"No Professor," Ila said before going back to stirring her antidote, something that she had been doing for the past ten minutes. It seemed that she was the only one who was doing this, everyone else was now chopping their final ingredients. She glanced at Hermione's potion to see it be light blue before looking back to hers.
"Ila, I don't think it's supposed to look like sludge," Hermione said, looking over Ila's shoulder.
"Yeah," Ron agreed, tilting his head as if it would help him to understand her antidote better. "It looks like it'll swallow me whole."
"Your one's no better," Ila tutted, placing a lid on her cauldron to shield it away from the two. "Your one looks like it'll eat me alive too," she said before picking up his wooden spoon that had burnt off.
As if hearing their conversation – which would have been likely, as the rest of the class was silent – Snape went on to address the whole class, telling them, "Need I remind you that once your antidotes have finished brewing, I will be checking to see how well they work, so could everyone keep their wandering eyes glued to their potions, rather than on any other student?" He finished his sentence, resting his eyes on Ila. Ron couldn't help but slightly chuckle.
"Shut up, I was not staring at anyone," Ila hissed.
"So then what do you call glaring at Malfoy's back?" he retorted.
"You know, you still haven't told us what he said to you when we left," Hermione added as she checked her recipe carefully.
"What – who's side are you on?"
"The one that wants to make sure you're not getting involved in stupid and dangerous things," Hermione said.
Ron smirked, before lightly elbowing Ila in the side of her stomach, "Go on."
At this point, it was time for Hermione's potion to start brewing, so now all her attention was on Ila.
"It wasn't anything serious," Ila said defensively, having a sudden interest in her antidote.
"So then just tell us," Ron said, in a way that didn't sound like he believed her. Ila looked up to see Hermione more concerned and Ron's grin widen. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't already break her promise to Malfoy just a few days after, not to mention he was sitting a few metres away from them.
But it's Malfoy – who cares if she broke his promise? It's not like she trusted him, it was obvious he had an ulterior motive. If anything, it would be better to let her friends in on it, just in case something happens and suddenly she doesn't turn up to her lessons anymore. Besides she wouldn't have to lie and sneak around whenever Malfoy 'needed her.'
"He just congratulated me…" Ila said slowly, her gaze drifting back to Malfoy's back. He was busy working on his potion, his body cowering over the table to inspect his potion.
"And?" Ron urged on.
"And…" Ila narrowed her eyes at him, "he told me that he didn't want to be enemies anymore…told me he wanted to be 'civil'."
"Civil!" Ron blurted out and was immediately met with a kick to the shin to shut him up when she saw Snape and Malfoy turn around.
"You don't think he means it, do you?" Hermione whispered once Snape looked away from the trio.
"I guess that's what I have to find out then," Ila said and with that, the bell rung, finishing their Potion's lesson with Snape. "He - er…he said I needed to help him…I wasn't supposed to tell you a lot…and I think I'm starting to regret it," Ila moaned, seeing a grin widening on Ron's face with every word that she spoke.
"What?" Ron said innocently, as he packed up his things and made his way out of the classroom. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm allowed to smile aren't I?"
"Say what you're thinking and I won't hesitate to throw my sludge at you!" Ila threatened, quickly catching up to him.
"Did he say anything about what you need to help him with?" Hermione asked before another argument could break out between the two. Ron sniggered but Ila ignored it.
"The only thing he said was that it wasn't anything like that," she said, pointing to Ron.
"Ila, Ila, Ila, - our sweet, stupid, naïve Ila," Ron said as they went down the stairs, smiling up to her. "You're really that dumb aren't you?"
"What?" she snapped.
"When a guy says that he needs your help and you shouldn't tell anyone about it," Ron said, "you know what that means. In fact, I'm pretty sure even Hermione knows what I'm thinking."
"Not everyone's a hormonal fourteen-year-old boy that has a dirty mind Ronald," Hermione tutted, pushing past him.
"It's not that big of a deal," Ron said, "So what if he has a crush on you? There's nothing wrong with a guy having a crush on you."
It would have been fine for Ron to make those jokes – actually, it wasn't but it was better when she didn't know about Malfoy having a crush on her. She couldn't help but micro analyse everything he does now, thinking if that was another sign she would have to add to the list of 'WAYS MALFOY'S SHOWS HE LIKES ILA!', a list she thought she would never have to make in the first place. She didn't think about it before. For all she knew, he could be lying…and he actually wanted…
Oh dear, here comes the throw-up.
"If it helps, there's been loads of girls that've had crushes on me that I didn't like," Ron said, slightly too proudly for the way the sentence was worded.
"Oh yeah – like who?" Hermione snorted. Ila walked ahead of the two, towards the portrait of the Fat Lady, but she could see Ron getting red and becoming uncomfortable. He was never a great liar.
"Well…there's that…you know… er – oh, what's that girls name? Oh! Ginny's friend. You know the, the one in Ravenclaw. Who made that lion's head? Remember her?"
"I have no idea who you're talking about Ron," Hermione said.
"Pickled tarts," Ila said, the portrait swinging open in response and she stepped into the busy common room.
"Almost sounds like you made her up," Hermione teased, as the two went inside the room.
The common room was busier than normal. Usually, Ila would see all the Gryffindors from each year in the evening. During lunch, everyone would always be in a rush to get their lunches first.
"I haven't," Ron grumbled. "She is a real girl."
Just as the three walked into the room, the sound of a throat clearing stopped all chatter. Professor McGonagall was there and stepped in front of the fireplace so that everyone could see her. Well mostly everyone, Ila thought as she saw Dennis Creevey jumping up and down to see her.
"I'm only here to make a few announcements," she said loudly. "First, need I remind you, there is a reason why the girls and boys dorms are separate. I've had more than enough complaints coming from prefects about boys and girls…fraternising with one another."
A fifth-year couple blushed heavily and stared at the floor. "If you wanted to spend time with your…friends, that is what the common room is there for. And whatever you needed to do in the privacy of your dorms, perhaps ask yourself why you can't do it here" – a few giggles erupted as the uncomfortable image was brought ahead – "Now, my final and more important notice is that there will be another event we will have to prepare for other than the Triwizard Tournament and that will be the Yule Ball." There were sudden gasps of excitement, mainly from the girls.
"While I won't go into too much detail as to what the ball will entail, there are some key details that you all need to know. The ball will only be for fourth years and above" – there were a lot more groans coming from those girls – "You will all need to be dressed in formal dress robes, something I'm sure your parents have already prepared you for and…well, the last one will one be relevant to one of you" – the entire student body of Gryffindor immediately turned back, their eyes landing on Ila, giving her a sense of déjà vu. "Ila, you will be opening the ball with a ceremony."
"What kind of ceremony?" Ila asked as thoughts of having to slay more dragons or even worse perform a –
"A dance," McGonagall said simply. "You will need to find a partner to go with the Yule Ball. You and your partner will dance, along with the other three Champions to start the Ball…if anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask me."
The crowd of students paved a way for her to leave the room, and once she did, students dispersed, leaving their belongings to quickly spend however long they had left of their lunch. All but Ila, who stood where she was, staring at where McGonagall had once been.
"Don't worry Ila, I'm sure you'll find someone soon," Hermione said soothingly.
"Yeah, you'll probably have a line of boys your way," Ron said. "You'll get the Creevey brothers and hey! If they don't work out, you'll always have Mal-"
Ron never managed to finish his sentence.
"Have you thought about going to Dumbledore?" Hermione asked over breakfast in the Great Hall.
"About what?" Ila said distractedly, her eyes on the Great Hall doors.
"About Malfoy – you know…the whole, wow – isn't – he – such – a – nice – person – wait, - isn't – that – a – really – weird – thing – for – him – to – do – considering - he's – the – one - who's – bullied – all – three – of – us – for – the – past – three – years – thing?" Hermione said, waving a hand over Ila's eyes to get her attention.
"Hmm – what? Oh," Ila said, her eyes finally going to Hermione's for the first time, "I told him about everything – he – er – well, let's just say that me calling Malfoy a death eater," she whispered, "didn't go quite the way I expected it."
"What – so we're supposed to forget about everything?" Hermione asked.
Ila shrugged. "Told you he would say that."
"But what happens if this is all a trap, just for " – Hermione looked both ways down the table to check if someone was listening before leaning in and whispered – "You Know Who to get you" – she leaned away.
"Go tell that to Dumbledore," Ila said, looking at him sitting on the golden throne talking to McGonagall, occasionally glancing at the students, like a king making sure all of his people were in check.
"Maybe you're thinking too in this," Ron said, who was sporting a busted lip owing it to Ila. She felt bad the moment her hand made contact with his face and apologies immediately poured out of her as she rushed him to the Hospital Wing, scared that their entire friendship was going to be in ruins once again. "Maybe he's just in love with her."
It wasn't.
The only thing Ron accepted was that Ila allowed him to make all the jokes he could about her and…Malfoy.
"This is serious Ron," Hermione scolded. "Ila's life could be in danger because of him and all you're doing…"
The conversation fell on deaf ears as Ila saw the doors to the Great Hall open and close once again and in walked in Malfoy. There was a sudden thrill in her stomach, one that wasn't pleasant. She realised that it always happened every time he came into her field of view. She didn't know why. It had been over a week since they made their deal and he still hadn't said a word to her. In fact, he's been acknowledging her less than he did before the First Task.
Not that she minded.
She couldn't care less where his attention was.
Ila watched Malfoy walk to the Slytherin table, where all of his friends were. Ila wondered if he had any friends. There was obviously Crabbe and Gayle who followed him around everywhere he went, but that's not what real friends are like. They aren't bodyguards that only talk to you when allowed. Parkinson was defiantly not on the list of his friends. She watched him take a seat between his bodyguards, opposite Blaise and Nott. Were those his real friends? Ila would see him laugh and talk with them more than he did with Crabbe and Goyle – though that isn't saying much. Did he have any real friends? Friends like Ron and Hermione?
Speaking of, they were now in a conversation about dates to the Yule Ball, another conversation that she didn't want to have right now.
"Dunno yet…have a lot of options though," Ron replied to Hermione, making a point to look around the Hall.
"I doubt you can get a date from any of the older girls," Hermione said coldly.
"And why's that?" Ron asked. "Guys date girls from youngers, so why can't girls?"
"I'm not saying that they can't Ron," Hermione said, "I'm saying they don't want to date an immature guy."
"I'm not immature."
"So McGonagall catching you, Fred, George and Lee fighting each other with rubber haddocks and swords was mature then?" Ila asked. Ron hesitated, unsure of where to go from there.
"Look I bet I can get at least ten girls to get with-"
"Why don't you go with Malfoy to the Yule Ball?" Hermione said so suddenly.
"What?"
"Go with Malfoy to the Ball," Hermione said. Ila could see the plan formulating behind her eyes as she spoke. "Go with him to the Ball, and that way, not only will you be tricking him into thinking you're falling for his act but also you get to keep a close eye on him."
Ila stared blankly at Hermione once she finished her explanation while Ron couldn't help but laugh so loudly, he annoyed a few Hufflepuffs behind him.
"Malfoy…her…dancing…"
Something about that 'sentence' was so funny to Ron that he couldn't stop laughing, and in fact not breathing at one point. He looked like he was crossing the threshold between pain and pleasure as he held the sides of his stomach.
"It's not that funny," Ila mumbled.
"Ila…can't you…see it…Hermione…"
It took Ron another ten minutes for him to go few seconds without bursting out laughing and he finally sobered up. He still had a smile on his face when he spoke but it was better than being on the brink of death.
"You're not serious are you?" Ila asked once he calmed down. "You're seriously asking me to go out of my way to ask him of all people? Hermione, I bet you there won't be another time where I get to go to a ball and dance my heart away. Are you really asking me to give that up right now?"
Hermione looked at her deadpanned, the three of them knowing that that excuse wouldn't work on her.
"It's only for a night Ila," Hermione said. "He could be planning on doing something that night and putting everyone in danger. You could be saving everyone right now if you go with to the Yule Ball. You'd want that don't you? Saving everyone?"
Ila had never seen Hermione be so…manipulative.
"What's happens if he rejects me?" Ila said seriously.
"Wait, hang on you're actually going to do this?" Ron asked, the smile dropping off his face within seconds.
"Shh Ron!" Hermione hissed, scared that he'll ruin her plans before facing Ila again. "Then we'll have to find another way to see what he's up to."
"I thought this was all joke," Ron said, now feeling guilty for laughing for such a long time at something that was real.
Ila looked over to the Slytherin table, catching the attention of Hermione who turned around and did the same, along with Ron.
"I can't go up and ask him," Ila said as the three stared at the Slytherin. "It wouldn't make sense. He'd think that I'm being suspicious. Not to mention, I don't really want any rumours that I like him or something."
"How else are you supposed to ask him?"
"Are you sure you want to - "
"Yes Ron," the girls said simultaneously.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to fall in love with him after this," Ila said. "There needs to be a situation where he and I end up going without me having to ask him so it doesn't seem weird and so that I don't end up getting rejected."
Just as Hermione was about to speak, she was cut off by a loud scream. The entire hall quietened down and the teachers stopped talking, standing up to see what had happened. At the end of the Ravenclaw table, stood one of the few Biautomaton's boys. His face was wearing a bowl. He slowly lifted it off his head, to reveal his porridge ridden clothes and face. No one dared to move, all everyone did was watch the boy's reactions. Not even the teachers wanted to do anything. Ila had a feeling about where this was going to go and was slowly pulling Ron down the table, ready to drag Hermione too before it was too late. The boy threw the bowl to the floor, it landing with a loud clang that echoed throughout the hall. He grabbed a syrupy pancake in one hand and a goblet of pumpkin juice in the other before yelling the word of every student's dream and every professor's worst nightmare.
"FOOD FIGHT!"
All the students that were brave enough to take part rushed to the table, grabbing as much food as they can. Toast, beans, sausages were being thrown across the Hall. Pumpkin juice splashed into people's eyes, mouths and clothes. Marmalades, jams and syrups drenched students. From under the table, Ila counted at least six different ways eggs were done smash into people's faces. Professors were trying their best to calm everyone down such as McGonagall, who previously took the headmaster away from the Hall. She stood on his podium and was about to yell when Dennis Creevey missed his aim at his brother's face and instead had his syrupy pancake land smack bang on McGonagall's face.
"Ah, that is brutal!" Ron commentated as he took a bit of one of his sausages.
"Ron, do you know how hard house-elves worked on this and now…I mean what will they feel when they find that their food is being used for ammunition for a pathetic food fight?"
"Why wasn't I there?" Ron said, laughing as he watched the twins conjure oranges to pelt the Slytherins with.
"Ron!"
But he didn't listen. In fact, even though Hermione didn't explicitly tell him, it was quite clear from the tone of her voice, that she didn't want Ron to leave the safety of the table and join the food fight, he managed to do the opposite. The girls couldn't pull him back and watched in awe and horror, join his brothers to help pelt oranges to the fourth year Slytherins, only for his brothers to turn on him, and he was now covered in oranges. Ila saw Flitwick swiftly deflect any food that was coming to him, but unfortunately didn't see the large pancake that was flying his way and was knocked off his feet. Sprout was doing her best, sprouting vines from the floor that could stop the student's from throwing food while Trelawny – well if only she saw this, none of this would've happened.
"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON!" A loud voice boomed through the hall, stopping everyone in mid-throw of food to their next victim. The hall was silent, the sound of a fork being dropped quietly echoing as the periodical clunks of a wooden leg and cane stopped the hall from going into silence. Ila saw the leg and cane stop right in front of her and Hermione. "C'MON THEN! YOU LOT WEREN'T QUITE A FEW SECONDS AGO. WHAT'S CHANGED NOW!"
There was a gulp, shared by all the students as Moody survey the entire hall, his eyes checking each side of the room before meeting in the middle to see Professor McGonagall, her face covered in syrup. She muttered a cleaning spell and fixed her hat.
"I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH INSOLENCE BY STUDENTS SINCE…SINCE" – Ila had slowly crawled out of the table, to see McGonagall staring at her – "I WANT EVERYONE TO GO BACK TO THEIR COMMON ROOMS. NOW!"