Hey everyone,
I just want to let you all know that with this chapter I am ending the Ron Bashing! Not entirely, but I am just going to go on a little from where I left of in Chapter 19 "Greetings, Hogwarts". However, just because I'm going to lessen on the bashing of one character, does not mean the other two are going to enjoy the same luxury. If anything, it will be exact opposite.
Even more bashing,

Venquine1990
Shout-Out To:
Shadow Wolf 15846
Knight5946
Jostanos (How are you enjoying your Christmas gift?)
ThunderClaw03
Lilly-flower15

Chapter 23
Announcements And Discussions

2nd of December 1994
Great Hall, Hogwarts
McGonagall's POV

"May I have everyone's attention, please?" I ask, part of me still not entirely sure if this really is such a bright idea, but another part of me conceding to the fact that, with teenagers being our students, keeping things like important events a secret is just not an option and luckily enough does it take only a few nudges here and there for all students to stop their chatting and turn to me.
"Thank you. Now, most of you have probably already been informed by your Heads of House or other teachers about the upcoming Yule Ball, which will take place on Christmas Eve. However, that is not the only event that will take place this month. I am proud to announce that one week before then, on the 17th of December, there will be an official Announcement Party for Mss. Potter.
For those of you who do not know what this means, it will be a party where Mss. Potter will try and find herself a partner for life by interacting and conversing with all those that managed to gain an invitation. And like with all Announcement Parties, there will be certain rules to follow for all those who want to gain this honor, as an invitation to any such party always is. Lord Black?"

The man nods and stands up himself as he says: "Thank you, Professor McGonagall. Here are the rules that you need to follow if you want to be invited. For Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, show your best qualities. Be courageous when others are being bullied. Share your smarts with those having trouble learning. Help those being lost in the hallways. Show off that you can provide for yourself in an honorable, respective way.
And before any of you Hyenas start raging or bemoaning your fate, there are two other offers that, if you also follow these rules, you can chose from at the end of the invitation period. Either you can get your parents to meet with me over a business deal that can help your family forward or you will be allowed back into your House, no questions asked.
You may not be invited, but you will receive a much better chance, in larger numbers, to improve your own futures and even those of your families, if you so choose to. However, let me make one thing very clear to everyone who does get the chance to be invited. The rules comply to everyone. I won't just invite you if you follow these rules for my goddaughter, but not others.
If you can prove that you can be just as courageous, smart, generous and ambitious to others as yourself or my charge and you manage to use those qualities for the betterment of Hogwarts in the next two weeks, you assure yourself a fine chance to be invited. Also, whoever my charge choses as her partner for life will also be her partner to the Yule Ball. That is all."

And with that do the two of us sit down, me hiding a small smile behind my glass of water as I hear the entire hall buzzing with thoughts and ideas of how they can use the rules to ensure themselves an invitation. "I guess this really was the best way to get this mess out of the way. Straight forward and straight to the point." And I calmly return back to my breakfast meal.

That Night
Ron's dorm room
Ron's POV

I've been dreading this day for some time, since a few days before the First Task commenced and even before a knock is heard, do I state: "Just come on in." Sitting on my bed and trying to keep my grimace under check as Hermione and Ginny come in, both of them with smirks of victory on their faces as they join me. But before they can start, do I say:
"Don't even bother. Nothing you have planned isn't something the teachers aren't already expecting and won't see coming a mile away. And even if you did manage to get back to Gryffindor –." But then Ginny asks: "Who said anything about getting back into that House. This is our chance to get back at that stupid little slut." Making me groan and ask:
"What, in the name of Merlin, made you think you could get back at Jillian? Did you guys turn deaf or something when Professor Black said that Hyenas don't get invited?" The two girls roll their eyes and say: "We can. We're old friends.""And traitors who almost got his godchild killed. You're wasting your time, so just stop, now."

"How could you just give up like that?" Hermione asks and I snap: "I'm not giving up, I never even started. I listened and recognized the warning signs for what they are. And like I said, even if we get the teachers convinced to return us to Gryffindor, it's not going to change how Brown, the Chasers and the other girls think about us.
So if you thought getting back to Gryffindor could get you a chance to share a dorm with Jillian, think again. McGonagall and Lupin offered her and Brown to be moved to Bell's dorm and I doubt that will change after you become a Lion. If anything, I think they will want to move up to Spinnet and Johnson's dorm if that happens."
I then turn away and say: "And besides, I don't need to change how I've been behaving so far. Thanks to Ginny and her genius idea to threaten dad with mum in order to make him approach Lord Black with the offer of a marriage contract, I got hired by the staff to be a guard during the party. I'm already in, but if I screw up, I'll be expelled alongside anyone who made me screw up."
I glare at both the girls as I say this, having raised my voice when they tried to interrupt me and Ginny shrieks: "Why didn't you tell us?""I was ordered not to. Professor Black warned me not to speak of the Announcement Party until he did. And besides, just because I have this job doesn't mean I'll get any time with Jillian. I'm not exactly allowed to interact with her or anything."

"How is that even fair?" Hermione shrieks and I roll my eyes again as I say: "Considering everything I've done since Halloween, I think it's a lot more fair than I deserve. For Merlin's beard, guys, they're trusting me to keep Jillian safe, even though I was the last person to endanger her health. And even then they only do so because of how I have been trying to treat my illness so far."
The two look at me, shocked and mouths agape and I sigh as I say: "There's something you should know. A few days before the First Task Lady Hogwarts approached me in here. She said that she believes I have my illness well enough under control that she'd like to try and bring me back into the Gryffindor fold. I refused.""WHAT? WHY?" The girls chorus and I snap:
"Because she may trust me like that, but I don't trust myself. I'm still ill, I still need to be put down from time to time and I actually think that allowing me that close to Jillian, when she is probably going to look her top best, is a really dangerous thing for the staff to do. But I also consider it a test of my own mental and personal strength and so I took it.

But once the party is over, once Jillian has her partner, once her life is back to what it should be, I'm going to meet with her, Professors McGonagall and Black and go into a negotiation. I'm going to ask for the assurance that, while my charges will still stand, I won't be send to Azkaban for them and in return, I will accept suspension and use the time suspended to get the help I need.
And that, once I find it and have, truly, been healed, I get to return to Hogwarts and actually return to the Gryffindor fold. Those are my plans and I'm sticking to them. And I don't care one single Knut what you two think about them or me. I made up my mind and I'm not changing it, no matter what you or anyone else may think or say."

The two girls look at me, their eyes proving they can't believe what I just said and that Hermione is even wondering if she ever really knew me and then Ginny shrieks: "HOW COULD YOU? HOW COULD YOU JUST GIVE UP ON US LIKE THAT! HOW COULD YOU –!" But I silence her by aiming my wand at her, causing Hermione to yelp.
"Unlike you, I have more important things on my mind than revenge that is never going to work. I am trying to get my life back here, you two stupid witches. Now, I am going to kindly ask you two to leave. Professor McGonagall gave us permission to decide whether we want someone in our dorm or not, so leave now before I use the wards to push you out."
And to my annoyance do I spot Ginny slowly trying to reach for her own wand, but I instantly turn mine on her, making her whiten as I hiss: "Don't, Ginny. You know what you taught me just before Harry came into the common room. Do not give me a reason to use that on you." And both girls spot that I mean what I say, causing them to whiten in fear.

"What is going on here?" A stern voice asks and I turn my head to see Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway. "We had a disagreement and I asked them to leave as I could tell we would not get to any kind of understanding. They basically called me a traitor to their need for revenge, so I decided to draw my wand in case they tried to attack me like we all did Harry."
The woman nods and says: "Leave, girls. You have overstayed your time here." And while I hear Ginny whisper: "You really are a traitor." Do I no longer care as I have been holding onto my ever-developing plan for the last few weeks. The two girls leave and yet Professor McGonagall walks in, pulling one of my chairs to stand next to my bed and taking a seat on it.
"You weren't really planning to curse either of them, were you Mr. Weasley?" The woman asks and I shake my head as I say: "I know the rules set for these dorm rooms, Professor. I know that you are alerted the minute one of the Hyena-Lions draws their wand, just like Sinistra and the Snakes, Pince and the Ravens and Hagrid and the Badgers."

The woman nods and says: "I have to admit, Mr. Weasley, with your behavior this last week –." And so I repeat to her what I told Hermione and Ginny about my meeting with Lady Hogwarts and my plans for when Jillian has her life in order. The woman's eyes widen a little bit, but when she asks: "You do know that returning to Gryffindor means the charges are dropped?"
Do I shake my head and say: "Charges of an attempt of rape shouldn't be dropped, Professor. I – I don't want to go to Azkaban for it, that still scares me something horrible, but – but I don't want to be let off scott free after I graduate either. I – I guess this is just me finally living up to my Mirror of Erised image. Just ask the Headmaster, he knows."
The woman gives me another nod alongside a small smile and then stands up, using her own wand to move the chair back to my desk before she says: "Very well, Mr. Weasley, I will. And I just want you to know that I am very proud of you and your parents will too when they hear of this. I'd award points, but I believe your personal accomplishment is a better reward here." Making me smile as she leaves.

One week later
9th of December 1994
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Jillian's POV

I am just done. This needs to end and so I stand behind the Owl Stand, having asked permission from the Headmaster through Sirius just last night after dinner and feeling ready to put all these issues that have been coming up this last week behind me. I clear my throat and this is actually enough to make most of the students go quiet, turning to me and motioning those close to them to do the same.
"Sorry to interrupt lunch, but I need to get something of my chest. When my godfather, Professor Black, said that treatment of each other would get you more opportunity to get an invitation than positive treatment of me, he meant it. This is because, by the rules, I am not allowed to accept anything that can, in even the slightest form, be considered related to courting.
I am not allowed to accept any gifts or treats, regardless if they come from someone I only met once, like a Ravenclaw Sixth year, or someone I spend a lot of time with, like my dorm mates. I'm not even allowed to accept any kind of gifts from my own guardian, not until the party is over and I have chosen a partner for life. And I have been trying to tell this to most of you.
This is the reason why I have started walking in the middle of my group of friends again, why I am starting to spend more time with Sirius in his rooms and why my friends have been the ones accepting the gifts, because it's against the rules for me to. That is also the reason why you always find your gift back on your own beds at night as they were put there by the House-Elves.
Now I'm not saying this to hurt or insult any of you, just to make the rules perfectly clear once and for all. I am not your ticket in, you all are. So I am just going to repeat this one last time. Your treatment of each other is what will get you an invitation. Please remember that, thank you." And with that I sit down, yet there is still one other matter that has been confusing me for some time.

And so after lunch I return to the rooms Sirius has been staying in since my attack and wait for him there, the man coming in a little bit later with a large grin on his face as he says: "You did that brilliantly, little one. A lot of students are talking with each other and joking over how stupid they feel for misunderstanding the rules I set up a week ago."
This makes me smile, but then I ask: "Sirius?" And instantly the man is by my side as he asks: "What's wrong?" I shrug and say: "Nothing much, I'm just confused about something and I was hoping you could help me." The man nods and I say: "As I said, I've been forced to refuse a lot of gifts these last couple of days, definitely over a few dozen.
The biggest problem – or at least the one thing that confuses me the most – it's not just boys that try to give me gifts. It's girls too and not all of them are Hyenas. Heck, most the girls aren't. Why are they trying? Do they think they can get one of those business deals as well? Should I have talked about that as well when I explained myself?"

The man stares at me for a few minutes and then suddenly take on a goofy expression as he rubs the back of his head and says: "Whoops, guess I should have explained this one to you. I just assumed that the girls did when you had that lesson in playing with yourself." The man goes to take a seat of his own near me and takes a deep breath, me raising an eyebrow as he actually turns a little red.
"Jillian, the reason those girls are trying to get an invitation just as much as the guys are – is because the contract doesn't have to be just between you and some guy. It can be between you and a girl as well, if that is up to your acceptance and preference.""Wait, what? Girls can be – be into – other girls?" I ask, shocked and amazed as I never even imagined such a thing.
Sirius nods and says: "Lily had that in her dorm. She shared a dorm with two other girls and they started dating around this age as well. They just had this contract set up with another family, of which the Heir was of the same standing as them, where he would accept to help them birth an Heir for each of their Lines if he in return could get one Heir for his own.
It's actually called a Threesome and it happens more often than not in the Wizarding World, really, especially if you take Magical Creatures and Soul Bonds into account. It's one of the reasons we hide ourselves from the Muggles. Due to how powerful that Church, religion, Christianity thing of theirs is, it's just not safe for us to come out about things like this."

I look at the man, amazed and awed at hearing this and the man laughs and says: "I'm just going to assume that these girls are trying to get an invitation because of either one of two reasons. One, they're hoping that your change in gender doesn't affect your preferences as Harry was probably into girls or it's because most of your friends are female, so they think you like girls over boys – or both."
This makes me rub the back of my own head and I say: "I – I don't – I don't know what to think about this. I mean, I – I'm not against it, but – but I had no idea about any of this either. And – and to be honest they – they might be right. I – I mean, yeah, Cedric is hot and he's definitely good looking, but – but so are Fleur, Angelina and a few other girls. I guess I – I really do like both genders."
"Or as most people say it, you swing both ways." Sirius jokes and I laugh at this before starting to snicker in guilt as I say: "I guess that means we need to bring a few changes to the contract, seeing how many times I used the term "he" in there." The man smiles and says: "Just leave that to me, little one. And sorry again for not teaching you this sooner."

I shake my head, but then ask: "Just out of curiosity, do you have any invites ready yet?" The man nods and says: "I am definitely inviting all your friends, just so they can keep you company and because they know more about the people I plan to invite than I do. I also plan to invite some Heirs and Heiresses from families that your House is in alliance with and the three Champions."
This makes me smile at the man, excited and interested with his choices and the man laughs as he asks: "So why don't you go and fantasize about what you want to talk about with these people and what you hope to get out of meeting them at the party and then I'll go change the contract." I nod and laugh at him, but still do as he suggested, spending the rest of the day with a smile on my face.

So many options.
And if you want to really know, I actually already gave a few hints as to what I have planned for Jillian. It can be found in this chapter, but only if you know what to look for. And just to give you all a warning ahead of time: Jillian's party – will not be the end of her discovering things about herself or making decisions for her future.
Also, before I get any flames or something, I did not mean any hate or insults when I wrote about Sirius and his explanation about the threesome. I just wrote it that way because Sirius, like so many other Purebloods, doesn't really know about the Muggle world nor does he have Arthur Weasley levels of interest in it. He's just your usual ignorant wizard and I wrote him that way.
Next chapter: PARTY TIME! And trust me, that chapter is going to be quite long, though there is one more small event I have planned before the party actually starts; something that will, again, tie Jillian back into the Tournament, but then without having her needing to be a Champion. Want to know what I have planned. Just think of this,
Krum and Yule,

Venquine1990
PS. Yeah, I made that one pretty obvious – or did I?