The Great Hall at Hogwarts smelled of pumpkin spice, melting holiday candles and excitement. All of the house tables were packed with witches and wizards whispering hurriedly as warm lights flickered on their faces from the enchanted fireplace blazing in the center of the room.
Harry and Ron were looking tensely at the headmaster's table where the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge had just arrived and sat nervously combing his beard with his fingers. He hadn't really wanted to come, but his press secretary had advised him that to refuse the invitation would be seen as an act of cowardice.
Hermione waited in the right corner of the Great Hall with the rest of the prefects. She had convinced Dumbledore to allow them to be servers for the upcoming Christmas feast, insisting that it was a great honor to be allowed to wait upon Hogwarts guests. She slyly patted the hem of her left robe sleeve where she had secreted the potion she had recently completed.
" Attention Hogwart's teachers, students, and honored guests," announced Albus Dumbledore from behind the head table at the front of the room," This year I am sure that you are all aware that the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge has decided to share our Christmas Feast with us. Therefore, I will dispense with any longwinded speeches on my part so that we can eat this marvelous food and be prepared for his."
This provoked a lot of laughing from the Hogwarts students and faculty and a mild glare from the minister. Everyone then began to dig in to the grand assortment of food the house elves had prepared. Hermione was especially attentive to Cornelius Fudge's wine glass and refilled it every time it looked to be less than half full. It was lucky for her that Fudge was so fond of the schools wine vintage because she had refilled it no less than three times before she found the nerve to drop two small drops from her vial into the glass.
A short time later all the plates and glasses began to disappear and the prefects were sent to their tables to listen to the minister's speech having finished their plates before the other guests arrived. Dumbledore stood with a swirl of his silver robes and tapped the wooden table lightly with his wand to regain the attention of the schoolchildren.
" Now," he said," We will hear a few words from Mr. Cornelius Fudge."
"Thank you, Albus," Cornelius began solemnly," I would now like to…"
But the students never found out what it was that he would like to do because he hiccupped loudly and with a loud pop turned into a large skunk. Professor McGonogall's face turned a pale green and she hurriedly backed away from the table. Professor Sprout dashed bravely forward and tried to transfigure the minister back into his normal non-smelly form but was only sprayed with a noxious substance for his effort. The rest of the teachers were inefficiently trying to calm their students and send them back to their dorms before the situation could escalate.
The students were shocked when their headmaster stood on the table and bellowed SILENCE so loudly that not a few people fell on their backs with the force of his amplified voice. They were even more shocked when he asked with a quietly trembling rage who was responsible for this inexcusable humiliation of a Hogwarts guest and a stone faced Severus Snape said,"That would be my fault sir."
"Everyone, please proceed to your houses at once,"McGonogall shrieked once again in control of her faculties. Hermione, Ron, and Harry stared at each other in open mouth shock as they were bustled off to Gryffindor tower in mob of scurrying students.