Another Year of Christmas Disasters

By SilverWolf7007

Four: Nine Ladies

Harry seemed to be quite vexed by something. It was making Blaise - and pretty much everyone except Luna, because she just seemed immune to these things - somewhat antsy.

Finally, he gave in and asked. "Harry, what's bothering you?"

"There aren't enough."

Blaise held back a sigh. "Ah, that explains everything."

"Doesn't it, though?" Harry said, ignoring Blaise's sarcasm entirely. Blaise held back the urge to hit him, too. If this conversation held to the current trend, Blaise was going to end up very repressed by the end of it.

"Come on, Harry, maybe I can help," he offered.

Harry turned to him, despair in his eyes. "Do you happen to have two random females stashed upon your person?"

Blaise blinked. "No, but Pansy and Daphne are down in the Slytherin Commons. Does that help you in any way?"

"Blaise..." Harry said, staring at him with wide, watery eyes. "You've just saved Christmas!"

Blinking, Blaise wondered exactly how he had just 'saved Christmas', but Harry was already out the portrait hole and gave him no chance to ask.

"Well, that was odd," he muttered, heading back to join the epic game of Exploding Snap they were playing. It included roughly twenty packs of cards, everyone but Harry, Luna and himself, and more singed eyebrows than they actually had between them. Hermione thankfully knew a handy charm to restore them and had taught them all before they embarked on such a dangerous game.

Several explosions and three unsalvageable tables later, Harry returned to the Common Room with the two Slytherin girls trussed up in tinsel and scowling at him.

Blaise groaned. "Harry, I didn't think you were going to kidnap them!"

Harry stared at him incredulously. "And how did I get the rest of you here last year?"

"Good point, but still..."

Pansy cleared her throat. "Actually, just to clarify, we came willingly."

"Then why are you tied up with tinsel?" Justin asked curiously.

Daphne grinned. "It sounded fun when Harry suggested it."

"You two are as mentally disturbed as he is," Draco snorted. "So, Potter, exactly what are you planning to do with them now they're here?"

"Oh, you'll see," Harry said imperiously. He received several dirty looks and a few appeals for an explanation, but he ignored them all, released the Slytherin girls and vanished into the Tinselly Forest to find Luna.

An hour later Blaise saw him sneaking out with several strands of tinsel draped over his shoulder and another in his hand, forming a lasso. He considered warning the others, but Harry didn't seem to be aiming for him and really, it would be more amusing (for Blaise, anyway) to just let things proceed.

Blaise snickered when Harry lassoed Susan and dragged her, shrieking, into the trees. It didn't take long - despite the best efforts of the girls - for Harry to collect each of the girls in the room and abscond into the forest with them. Blaise assumed that it was Luna who was holding them hostage while Harry added to the collection.

The boys remained seated around their fourth table and kept playing with the cards, though the snap game soon turned into a competition in building the best card houses (without blowing them up). They waited a little apprehensively to find out what Harry had done with the girls, as it was fairly obvious that he was done with lassoing people.

Almost two hours had passed by the time any sign of the girls was heard.

"Harry, I'd like to point out that we're all doing this under extreme duress."

"What, all of you?"

"Yes!"

Harry stepped out of the forest looking a little sheepish. "Well, it's for a good cause?" he tried, turning back to the group of girls.

There were several sceptical murmurs from the trees. Harry just shrugged before raising his hand and snapping his fingers once.

Immediately the drumming from the depths of the Tinselly Forest rose in volume - and the monkeys were still playing Jingle Bells.

Luna joined Harry and began tapping a tambourine, smiling almost predatorily. Harry elbowed her and she attempted to look innocent. He just rolled his eyes. "Come on then, ladies."

"I hate you, Harry," Ginny sighed, twirling out of the forest and into a ballet routine. She was followed by the other eight girls, while Harry watched, Luna tambourined, and the rest of the boys stared in a combination of shock, horror and sheer amusement.

They were all wearing frilly red and green dresses, with tinsel in their hair, and not one of them was smiling.

Blaise would have laughed, but he didn't even want to think about what the girls would do to him afterwards.

Harry eventually waved his wand in the direction of the drumming and faded it out until they could barely hear it. Luna's tambourine vanished, and the other girls stopped dancing.

"So...how did he manage to talk you ladies into this?" Blaise asked, raising an eyebrow.

Hannah rolled her eyes. "He's Harry," she said. "How do you think?"

"I think he gave all of you that disgustingly endearing puppy dog look, mentioned his plan, and perhaps put a few spells upon your new outfits," Draco said with a faint smirk.

Padma sighed. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."

Daphne sank down onto a nearby couch, shaking her head. "You know, I never would have agreed to come up here if I knew there would be enforced dancing."

Harry pouted. "But you all look so pretty!"

"Flattery will get you nothing," Ginny snorted. "Certainly not forgiveness."

"Aw."

Wolfie thinks she kind of hates this chapter. Or at least the last half.

Wolfie also doesn't seem to have much to say now...

Well, hopefully you all enjoyed it at least somewhat.

And now Wolfie shall go, and let this chapter be posted. With any luck, you will see her again tomorrow.

Love to all,

Wolfie