Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
A few days later at dinnertime, Minerva announced that a Yule Ball was going to take place on Christmas and that everyone from fourth-year onwards was allowed to attend. "Younger students may only participate on invitation from an older student, and the four champions must attend and are asked to open the ball."
'Connie, there's going to be a Yule Ball on Christmas. Will you accompany me?'
'Of course.'
Draco swiftly turned around to where Hermione was sitting next to Harry and back-to-back with him.
"Hermione, will you do me the honour to accompany me to the Yule Ball?"
Hermione grinned in obvious happiness. "Yes, dear sir, I will."
Harry lightly kicked Neville, who was sitting behind him. "Ask Luna," he whispered.
During the overall commotion which had been continuing since Minerva's announcement, Neville leaned over to Luna, who was seated on Harry's left side.
"Luna, will you please go to the Yule Ball with me?"
The girl returned a dreamy look. "It will be my pleasure to accompany you. Thanks for asking, and thanks, Harry, for encouraging him to ask."
"You will ask Connie I suppose?" Hermione cast him a questioning look, causing Harry to smirk.
"Already done."
However, things were not as easy as they seemed.
On a Sunday evening in early December, Salazar strode by the Slytherin house table. "Mr. Potter, the headmaster wishes to see you in his office right after dinner."
"Professor, will you please accompany me in your capacity as my head of house?" Harry asked in a small voice, only to add, silently, 'I don't really trust Professor Dumbledore.'
Salazar nodded in silent reassurance.
HP
A few minutes later, Harry entered the headmaster's office with Salazar and Lucy in tow.
Dumbledore smiled, before he dismissed Salazar. "Thank you for bringing Harry here. You may leave now."
"No sir." Harry glared at the old wizard. "I wish for my head of house to remain for this conversation."
"Very well." Dumbledore nodded and motioned them to take seats. "Harry, you know that we're going to have the Yule Ball on Christmas."
"Yes sir."
"Now, the Minister of Magic, Mr. Fudge, asked me to inform you that he wants you to accompany his daughter Megan to the ball. She is of the same age as you."
Harry stared at the headmaster in disbelief. "No sir," he simply replied in a calm voice.
Dumbledore looked surprised, as he replied, "I am sorry, Harry. That was not a question but a request. It is important for Hogwarts that we keep the minister happy, and therefore…"
"No sir. I will either attend the ball with my girlfriend or simply remain at home."
"But, as you know, the champions must attend the ball." Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat with apparent interest. "Who is your girlfriend if I may ask?"
Harry glared at the old wizard, who was speaking in his soft, grandfatherly voice, which he detested profoundly. "No, you may not, sir. I am not a champion by my choice, and no, under this condition, I will not attend the ball at all."
Dumbledore let out a deep sigh, sounding tired as he dismissed them. "Harry, please think about the matter. I assume that the minister will not take 'No' for a response."
HP
Harry felt very upset, when he informed his friends that he was going to skip the Yule ball and why.
"Luna, would you terribly mind skipping the Yule ball as well? Harry, couldn't we have our own ball at home, considering the huge ball room that Lestrange manor has?"
Harry smiled. "While I'm sure Mum wouldn't mind us having a Yule ball, wouldn't it more fun for the two of you to attend the ball at Hogwarts?"
"Why the two of them? We're in as well, aren't we Draco?" Hermione cast her boyfriend a questioning look.
"Harry, would you be willing to accommodate the whole Slytherin house?" Draco quirked an eyebrow.
'Rebecca, could you please join us in my suitcase for a moment?'
An instant later, Rebecca popped up right next to them, and Harry quickly explained the matter.
Rebecca nodded in understanding. "We can house a huge Yule ball at the manor, and at least I will be there to put everyone under a charm, which will prevent them from giving away any family secrets. We should just know in advance how many people are going to come."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Lestrange." Draco was the first to reply. "I'm going to talk to the house right away. Is there a fireplace everyone could use?"
Rebecca nodded. "Simply tell them 'Lestrange manor.' We will divert any incoming floo calls to the entrance hall, which is just around the corner from the ball room."
"Shall I ask my house-elf Dobby to assist yours for the evening?"
Rebecca smiled. "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Malfoy, which, however, is not necessary, as we have several elves at the manor besides my sister's elf Dolly. They will be able to arrange for a large party."
Draco nodded in apparent understanding. "Very well, I'll speak with the others then. Hermione, why don't you inform the Ravenclaws? Perhaps, they'll be willing to boycott the school's Yule ball as well?"
HP
After the leaving feast, Harry informed Minerva that he and possibly a few others were going to boycott the Yule ball due to the headmaster's request that he had to accompany the minister's daughter to the ball instead of Connie.
Minerva's mouth stretched to a thin line, which softened, however, at his explanation. "We're going to have our own Yule ball at home," he admitted.
"Thanks for telling me the truth, Harry. I look forward to joining you and the family the following morning."
Harry nodded. "Too bad that you'll have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas this year, together with Artemis, Salazar and Severus."
"Do they know?"
"Yes, I told Severus the other day. Salazar knew from the beginning, as he was with me, when Dumbledore ordered me to take the minister's daughter, and Artemis promised to help Rebecca arranging for our own Yule ball."
"Does Professor Dumbledore know that you won't be here for the ball?"
Harry shrugged. "I told him. If he believed me, I don't know."
"Probably not." Minerva smirked.
HP
When everyone returned home for the Christmas holidays, Harry simply popped home, looking forward to the holidays.
"I can't wait for the Yule ball to take place," he told Regina and Connie. "A bit more than one hundred students are going to attend."
"Yes, we're going to have much fun," Connie replied, sounding as pleasant as always. "Some of the Unspeakables will be there as well. I believe that Rebecca invited team 13 and James team 5."
"Did anyone invite Archie and his wife, and what about Croaker?"
"I don't know." Connie looked questioningly at Regina.
"I am sorry, dears, but as Rebecca organised the whole thing, I am not privy of any details."
"Anyway, thanks, Mum, for allowing us to have the Yule ball at the manor." Harry gently hugged his adoptive mother.
"You're welcome, dear, and we're all looking forward to it."
HP
The Yule ball at Lestrange manor was a huge success. At least half of the students from the upper four Hogwarts years attended the ball, among them each single student from Slytherin, as well as Harry's extended family and around a dozen Unspeakables. Harry's fellow champions were among the students as well. Fleur and Viktor came as a couple, while Cedric was accompanied by Ginny Weasley, Ronald's younger sister and a Hufflepuff third-year.
Rebecca had invited the magical pop group BABA to perform the music, and everyone enjoyed themselves greatly.
HP
The Yule ball at Hogwarts was a different matter.
While Dumbledore was entertaining the Minister of Magic and his daughter in the Great Hall, implying that Harry Potter would surely show up any time now, Minerva was standing in the entrance hall together with Salazar, Severus and Mr. Filch, knowing that the three of them knew as much as herself about the upcoming ball.
'I hope that a large part of the students is still going to show up and at least the other three champions,' she thought, while the guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang gathered in the entrance hall. She sighed in relief upon noticing Percy Weasley from Gryffindor together with Penelope Clearwater from Ravenclaw. A few older students from Ravenclaw joined the group. 'Mostly the bitches, who harassed Luna during her first-year,' she thought, grimly, as she waited for more students to show up. However, by the time the champions were supposed to open the ball, none of them were there.
Finally, she led the students gathered around her into the Great Hall.
"Minerva, what is the meaning of this?" Albus addressed her upon seeing about a dozen students of Hogwarts along with their guests from the visiting schools.
Minerva let out a deep sigh. "Albus, it's your fault. Requesting that Harry Potter should take the minister's daughter to the ball instead of his own girlfriend caused most of the students to boycott the ball."
Salazar nodded. "Each of my Slytherins decided to join the boycott."
"I am going to deal with Potter." Fudge looked furious.
"Ah, but I know for a fact that he did not have anything to do with the boycott. That was his friends' doing." Severus said in his soft, silky voice.
"Severus and Salazar, will the two of you please make Miss Megan Fudge your dance partner?"
The two Slytherins nodded. "Yes sir."
Salazar immediately bowed in front of the girl. "Will you honour me to dance the first dance with me?"
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir."
"Come, Minerva," Albus offered his hand and lead her to the dance floor, where they opened the dance in lack of the champions.
HP
'Albus, that manipulating old coot,' Severus thought in annoyance, 'leaving me alone with the minister.' "Minister, may I bring you a glass of wine?"
"Yes please." The minister's anger seemed to have deflated some. At least that's what he thought, when the man accepted the wine, which Severus had unobtrusively laced with a calming draught and a cheering charm. However, he inwardly groaned, when the man spoke up.
"Dumbledore seems to not have the students in grip. I believe that I should send someone from the ministry to teach a class here at Hogwarts and keep an eye on him. Dolores would be able to do a good job here."
'Thanks for telling me that plan in advance, so we'll have time enough to prevent you from sending that bitch to us,' Severus thought, resolving to speak a world with Salazar, Albus and the extended family.
"Thank Merlin we left Hogwarts before breakfast." Minerva smirked at Severus and Salazar. "Upon seeing the Quibbler's front page, he'd surely question us why the students' Yule ball took place at Lestrange manor, although we currently don't even have any students from House Lestrange."
"Albus won't even see the Quibbler today, considering that you're all here. Shall I attend breakfast in the Great Hall tomorrow, when the Daily Prophet will surely catch up and bring an article of their own?" Artemis smirked.
"Oh yes please. Give us all a good laugh." Harry grinned at his mentor.
HP
During the holidays, Harry showed his golden egg to Lorenzo, as Connie told him that the centaur might at least know whom he could ask.
Lorenzo smirked and advised him to speak with Aquarius. "I believe that it could be mermish, and Aquarius is a merman. Speak with Croaker. He will introduce him to you."
Croaker nodded in understanding. "He is in team 11. Come on, let me introduce you to that specific team. We still have lots of teams left, where I need to introduce you anyway."
Croaker introduced Harry as Mini Head Unspeakable Paws, and Harry noticed in surprise that the team consisted of a merman, a vampire, an elf and the giant, who had taught him Music a couple of times years ago. To Harry's relief, everyone was as friendly as the members of the other teams, and they even seemed to be thrilled to meet him.
After a short discussion with Croaker and team 11, Harry showed Aquarius the golden egg, and the merman nodded in apparent understanding.
"Come." He led him into a room, which was equipped with a lake that somehow reminded Harry of the Hogwarts lake. With a flick of Aquarius' wand, Harry found himself dressed in swimming suits, and he quickly followed the merman into the fortunately shallow water.
Together, they listened to the message that the merpeople had left inside the egg. Once they were back on the shore, Aquarius nodded in apparent understanding. "I have heard my family talk about this. This is about the tournament that is just taking place at Hogwarts."
"Yes sir."
"Are all of the champions human like you?"
Harry nodded.
"That's fine then. Humans can swim well enough. Otherwise, I'd teach you a cheat. If you have any questions or problems, please contact me at any time."
Harry smiled. "Thank you, Aquarius. I appreciate your help very much."
At that time, he was unaware that he was going to take the merman up on his offer mere three days later.
HP
Ever since the first task, the four champions had made it a habit to meet in the Hogwarts kitchen on Friday mornings, where they discussed their progress, the upcoming second task as well as private matters that they wished to share with the others. Over the months, they had become good friends.
On this Friday morning, Harry informed them about his conversation with a merman as well as about the message that was included in the egg.
Fleur blanched visibly. "But 'Arry, I am a quarter Veela, and Veelas are fire people. We cannot go into ze water, let alone swim in ze lake."
"Really?" Harry cast his friend and fellow champion a sharp look, noticing that she seemed ready to cry. He nodded in understanding and promised to speak with Aquarius again the next morning.
HP
Aquarius readily taught him a secret of the merpeople along with a charm, which he should cast at Fleur within a week prior to the second task, as well as a spell, instructing him to teach it to Fleur. "She must cast it, as soon as she enters the water. Just like you, she should take a dose of Gillyweed before entering the water, as neither of you can breathe underwater."
"Excuse me, sir, but what will the charm and the spell do?" Harry eyed the merman with curiosity.
"The charm will give her enhanced merpeople abilities. We merpeople have one kind of companion, the merfins. They are like muggle dolphins, however, magical, and they are invisible to humans. This charm allows your friend to see them, and the spell makes her summon one, who will take her to the village and back. I will instruct one of our merfins accordingly."
"That is amazing. Thank you so very much for helping my friend."
Aquarius chuckled. "Feel free to cast the charm at yourself and the other champions as well if that's what you wish. Just do not teach it to anyone."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Yes sir. Thank you, sir."
"Give me a moment." With that, the merman jumped into the water and went for a big dive, only to return an instant later carrying a huge pile of some kind of seaweed. "This is Gillyweed. You only need a mouthful each, but keep it. You never know, when you'll need it again, although you can, of course, ask me at any time."
HP
Returning to Hogwarts, Harry telepathically asked Fleur out onto the grounds, where he told her about his conversation with Aquarius and taught her the spell she was supposed to cast.
"Zank you so much, 'Arry. I appreciate it very much," Fleur gushed and, before Harry knew what happened, pulled him into a bear's hug.
"'Ow can we breaze under ze water zough?" she then remembered to ask.
Harry grinned and handed her a dose of the Gillyweed, informing her that he had lots of it for the other three of them as well.
HP
The day of the second task was a cold day in February, and Harry looked longingly at the spectator seats, where his friends were gathered in front of a large screen that was going to display everything that would go on under the surface of the lake. 'I'd rather sit with them, huddled in my warm robes, than jump into the ice cold lake,' he thought in annoyance.
He had cast Aquarius' charm at Fleur, Cedric, Viktor, himself as well as Connie, Hermione, Draco, Neville, Luna, Regina, Remus, Rebecca, Artemis, Minerva, Severus and Salazar during the week, knowing that it was supposed to last a week. While no one but the champions were going to swim in the lake, the others would watch everything on the screen, and with the charm cast at them, they would be able to see the merfin that was going to come to Fleur's help if everything worked out as planned.
However, Hermione was missing and had been the whole morning. He had asked Luna; but the girl did not know anything about her fellow Ravenclaw either and merely assumed that she might have gone to the hospital wing for some reason.
'Artemis, do you know or can you find out where Hermione is?' he thought to his mentor.
'I believe that she is one of the hostages. She'll be waiting for you at the merpeople's village.'
'Do you know who the other hostages are?'
'Ginny Weasley is Cedric Diggory's. The others aren't Hogwarts students I believe.'
Harry decided to keep the matter to himself and readied himself for the task at hand.
Together with the other champions, he jumped into the water, put the Gillyweed into his mouth and began to swim as fast as he could, the thought 'Perhaps, I should have tried getting a second Animagus form by trying to change into some kind of fish or dolphin' crossing his mind.
He could not see the other champions; however, at one stage, he saw a merfin pass by with Fleur crouched on its back.
'Thank Merlin, it's working for her,' he thought and hurried up, reaching the place, where the hostages were being kept, while Fleur was still trying to free what seemed to be her younger sister.
"Excuse me, could you please help my friend?" he addressed the merpeople who were nearby watching, while he eagerly tried to free Hermione.
Noticing from the corner of his eyes that the merpeople headed over to Fleur and her sister, he quickly pulled a sleeping Hermione into his arms and swam up to the surface as fast as he could. 'Thank Merlin,' he thought, when Hermione opened her eyes and was able to swim by herself.
Suddenly, a small boat approached them led by a merman. "You speak mermish?"
"Yes. Aquarius taught me."
"Get in." The merman pulled them both up into the boat and offered them a ride until shortly before the shore. "Now, swim to the shore."
Together, they swam to the shore, which they reached just when Fleur pulled her younger sister off the merfin.
"Thank you, Harry." Tears spread from Fleur's eyes, as she pulled Harry into a bear's hug. "You saved my life and that of Gabrielle. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome." Harry smiled, feeling very uncomfortable at the praise. 'That was not my doing but Aquarius',' he thought, thanking Madam Pomfrey profusely, when she cast drying charms at all of them, just when Cedric and Viktor returned almost at the same time.
All four champions received full points for the task.
'Two done, one more to go,' Harry thought to Connie, as he parted from the other champions. 'Let's hope that the third task will go equally well.'
'You can do it.' She grinned broadly and pulled him into a bear's hug, as soon as he approached the family. 'I am very proud of you.'