CHAPTER 10- Follow the Music
"You have got to be kidding me, Ron. There is no way that I am going to wear that repulsive thing!" The voice of the youngest Weasley was heard all throughout the Gryffindor Common Room.
The students who were currently inside all looked up from what they were occupied in doing just to see what the entire ruckus was about. They spotted the young female Weasley and her brother Ron having a go at it by the fireplace.
"But, Ginny, this is what Mum had sent for you to wear on the Ball. If you don't want to wear it, then don't! But I will not be the one tell Mum about your dislike for the dress!" retorted the older Weasley.
Both siblings have been going at it for almost thirty minutes since they were both released from their classes. Ron had received a package, earlier that morning, from their Mum. It packaged three different dress robes for him, Fred, and George, while another gown was present, obviously for Ginny. Ron was thankful that this year his dress robes weren't as hideous as before, it kind of looked like the one Harry had before. Ginny, for that matter, was very outraged at the look of her dress.
"I simply cannot believe that Mum sent that thing for me to wear. You have to be mistaken, Ron. That cannot be mine," Ginny shot back.
"I am not making a mistake, Ginny. This is really for you. Look at this note that Mum had sent. This is the proof. Don't blame me for it."
Ginny just slouched down the chair and stared disgustingly at her dress. She couldn't possibly wear that to the Ball. Not while in front of all the students and their guests, especially not in front of a royalty. That would be very embarrassing. She just couldn't take that heap of embarrassment. But then again, it's not like I have a date or anything.
Just then the Portrait Hole opened and out came Harry and Hermione, both brandishing a pair of parchment. They saw Ginny slouched on the couch and turned to see the gruesome unknown piece of rag left unattended on the living room floor.
"Is that...what I think it is, Ron?" asked Harry.
"That's my supposed dress, Harry, and I clearly don't like it," answered Ginny coldly.
"You can't possibly be serious."
"She is, Harry. Mum sent it this morning, along with Fred, George and my dress robes."
"Well, it's still a few weeks before the actual dance. We still have more time to look for another dress. Cheer up, Gin. Harry and I have to tell you something.
As if like a little girl given her first birthday present, Ginny sat up from her slouched down position and looked straight at the two.
"What's that? Is something the matter?" asked Ginny eagerly.
"No, nothing to be concerned about, Gin. It's just that we all came up with an idea to pull over all the student dance assistants to practice tonight at the Room of Requirement. You know, just to prepare ahead before we actually get into teaching. So, are you in?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, that's a great idea, Hermione. I'm in!"
"Great! Be there after dinner, alright?"
"Sure."
Meanwhile, Harry and Ron decided to go ahead to their dormitories while the two girls were talking. All the while chatting about how things would go if ever Ginny sees Draco there at the practice.
"I don't think she'd be too delighted about that, Harry," Ron stated.
"I know what you mean, but as of now, it is all in Hermione's hands what would be happening tonight. She did plan this all. So, there really is nothing that we can do about it."
"Ginny would throw a fit! That I would want to see."
"Very funny, Ron."
And so the two disappeared into their dormitories awaiting the upcoming evening. Unbeknownst to them, nor Hermione, Ginny was very much certain that Draco would be there and she was slightly glad about it. She had been having strange feelings towards Draco since she can remember. Although she still acts a bit rough towards him, inside, Ginny does have a soft spot for the young blonde.
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"Okay, thank you all for coming here tonight. I know what you guys might be thinking, "we don't know dance that very well so how are we supposed to teach it to others?" That's why we are all here tonight. We will help each other practice for the different dances that will be done at the Ball. Here I have a list of all the dances that will be done that night. I had asked Professor McGonagall about this and she gave me this list. All we have to do now is to practice all of these in time for our first lesson. Is that clear?" Hermione's voice stated throughout the group of Houses in front of her.
"Wait, what if we don't know what kind of dance there is on that list?" asked Ron.
"You're right. What are we going to do about that?" wondered Hermione.
Suddenly, the door to the Room of Requirement opened and in came Professor Oliver and the hooded girl now known as Lady Harriotte. Oliver escorted Harriotte towards the front just beside Hermione. Faces of the students inside the room were obviously painted with shock and bewilderment.
"You should have called us first before engaging into something like this. Professor McGonagall did ask us to assist you in teaching," said Oliver after they reached Hermione.
"Oliver? How did you know about this meeting?" Ron asked rather shocked.
"Of course I heard it from your brothers. Who else would know about all the mischief happening here at this school than the ones who usually cause it? Now, hand me that list there, Hermione. Thank you."
Oliver browsed through the list for a few seconds before showing it to Harriotte. Harry watched as Harriotte carefully looked at the parchment. Somehow, he felt something different towards her. It was like he was so comfortable with her. He cautiously watched as Harriotte pointed at something in the parchment. The movement of her hand was swift yet gentle. Harry couldn't help but smile at this. I have got to stop this.
"Alright then, now, we will begin immediately. As I have seen in this parchment, there will only be one dance but three different components are taken from it. Number one is the Hesitation Waltz, number two is the American Style Waltz and last is the Standard Waltz. The Hesitation Waltz is actually an arrest on the standing foot for the duration of the full waltz assess, with the moving foot poised in the air or leisurely dragged. The American Style Waltz then involves flouting contact approximately exclusively in several figures, contrasting to that of the International Standard Waltz which is danced exclusively in closed position. Now then, who knows at least one of these components?" Oliver asked, looking at the faces of the people in front of him.
Everybody seemed to be clueless of what Oliver had just said. None of them raised their hands to acknowledge Oliver's question, not even the ever so smart Hermione. Harry glanced back at Oliver then to Harriotte who suddenly smiled at something or more likely someone. He looked to where Harriotte was looking and found Draco Malfoy looking rather perplexed at everything. Harry then wondered. What is going on here? Harriotte crushing on Draco? But I thought Oliver was her fiancé? This must be trouble or maybe something else. But what?
"Well, it seems that no one knows what we are about to do then. Why'd you even start this meeting if you don't know what you will be doing? I told you to ask me for help anytime," Oliver grimaced as he looked at his new students brandishing clueless expressions.
"Oliver, you require not to be like that. That is why we were asked by Professor Dumbledore to assist them and so we are to do it. Knowing that they have no known comprehension as to what they are to be schooling, we must commence with the lessons immediately," the hooded girl finally said, pulling off her cloak to be welcomed with staggered faces from the horde.
All the students were astonished at what they saw. Of course, Harry and the others weren't as shocked as the others now knowing what Harriotte really looked like. But Harry couldn't help but be overwhelmed at the sight of Harriotte. It was true that she very beautiful, incomparable to anyone, but her beauty seems to be more radiant as you look at her closely. Harry smiled at her striking face knowing that he could probably be flustered by now. It's nothing to be ashamed of. She is beautiful. No one could deny that. Hermione even said that she is Wardsworth's Miss Perfect.
Oohs and Aahs were heard from the guys of Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff. It was understandable that they were very much captured by Harriotte's beauty just like the Gryffindor boys before. But then no verbal reaction was heard from any of the ladies probably because their mouths were agape because of utter shock at the lady behind the hood.
"Well then, before we begin, might I ask you to close your mouths? A mosquito might fly inside anytime soon and that wouldn't look lovely," Oliver said.
With that, the shocked expressions were turned into eager faces. All of them wanting to know who the lady was and what she was doing there.
"This is Lady Harriotte. Do you remember what Professor McGonagall had said awhile ago? About a certain Lady Harriotte helping you guys? Well, she is now standing in front of you. This is Lady Harriotte Henson, the daughter of Duke Henson."
"H-H-Henson? You mean the Henson? Duke Edward Henson? England's duke?" asked a very stunned Padma Patil.
"Yes, you are correct, Miss Patil. She is the daughter of the Duke of Epingworth."
"I thought Professor McGonagall was just playing with us when she said that awhile ago. But, how do you know her? Why is she here? What is seriously going on here?" asked Justin Finch-Fletchley.
"I don't think we have ample time to discuss that thing for now. Maybe some other time, or you could just ask Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor group, I'm sure they can answer you that immediately. For now, we must begin with the lessons. I received word from Professor McGonagall that practices are to begin by next week, so that means we only have a week for you to learn all of these. Now, find your partner and take your positions by the floor. Hurry now."
As if on cue, pairs from the same Houses took their positions on the floor. Only Cedric and Cho were paired differently. Draco refused to pair up with Pansy and so she was left to be paired up with Blaise because Millicent Bulstrode was no where to be found. Harriotte saw this and took time to look at Draco's lethargic look. Harry carefully watched as Harriotte walked towards Draco, smiling before telling him something. Soon enough, Draco joined them on the floor having Harriotte as his partner. Something is definitely going on here.
"Alright, now that you are all paired up we shall instigate with the first lesson and that will be the Hesitation Waltz. Since I have no partner I will be the one observing you. Now, let's begin."
An hour had almost passed with most of the pairs struggling to perfect what Oliver had instructed them to do. Harry and Hermione quickly caught up with Oliver's instructions, much to Harry's relief, and soon were already perfecting the form. Cho and Cedric also picked up quickly, as is the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw pairs. Only Ron and Ginny and Blaise and Pansy were having a difficult time getting used to their positions.
"No, no, no, Miss Parkinson. That is not how you do it. You need to sashay not drag yourself. Be weightless. Act like you are floating in mid-air, without a broom that is," Oliver lectured over at the Slytherin pair.
"But this is too difficult! I cannot do this stupid thing! If only Draco was my partner!" shouted Pansy.
All eyes were suddenly focused on Draco who was standing beside Harriotte, looking uninterested at what Pansy had just said.
"It doesn't matter who your partner is. What matters is that you know what you are doing and you're doing it with passion. Even if your partner is the worst dancer or the greatest dancer of all time, as long as you know how to carry yourself then you can do it. Now stop your excuse and get on with it, or else you will be the cause of delay for their bed time."
"But I can't do it! So just leave me alone! To hell with this! I hate waltz!"
"Miss Parkinson, I will not have that kind of tone in this room. If you really think you can't do it then you are a disgrace to this class. Only a despondent would say such a thing."
"No one can do what you are asking them to do! You're torturing us with this! You want us to glide? What are we? Dementors? There is no one who can glide! So just forget about it, Professor!"
"No one, you say? We'll see about that. Harriotte, Draco."
And with that, the pair walked towards the center of the floor. Draco bowed at Harriotte and she graciously curtseyed as him. Then the music began to play. What they saw was clearly unbelievable in their eyes. Harriotte and Draco were gliding in the dance floor. It was unbelievable. Both of them looked like they were dancing in mid-air.
As the music ended, they both bowed at each other and to the people. Applauses were heard all throughout the room. All were astonished to have seen such a magnificent performance.
"Now you tell me that no one can glide after you had just seen that," Oliver finally told Pansy who was at great awe at what she saw.
Pansy just glowered at him and took a spot beside Blaise at the far corner. Oliver then walked towards the group already surrounding the dancing pair. Shock was still evident at their faces.
"Now, now, students, you have seen what they can do. Prove to me then that you can do what they had just done or maybe even better. Are you up for that challenge?" asked Oliver to his eager students.
"Game on!" shouted everyone.
After about a half and hour or so, the Room of Requirement was empty again aside from the attendance of certain Gryffindors, a Slytherin, a Ravenclaw, a Hufflepuff, a professor, and a Wardsworth student.
"So, do you care to tell us what all that was about?" asked Hermione to Oliver.
"It's not a wonder, Hermione. Harriotte was bred in high royalty, she knows how to dance," Oliver cheerfully answered, looking lovingly at Harriotte.
"I know that, but, Draco! What about him? It looked as if they had danced that routine a thousand times already."
"That's because they have. I mean, not nearly a thousand, of course. More like a hundred only."
"Huh?" asked the confused bunch of students.
"You didn't know?"
"Didn't know what?" asked Ginny.
"Draco is Harriotte's cousin. I think it was because Harriotte's mother was of Malfoy descent or something. I really don't know. But, yes, they are related to each other."
"WHAT?!?!"
"Please stop that over-excessive shouting. It will someday damage my eardrums."
"So that's why they seemed to know each other quite well awhile ago," said Ron, looking enlightened about the whole thing.
Harry was silent but it was obvious that he was also shocked at what Oliver had just disclosed to them. So that's why they acted like that! I thought something was already up with the two of them.
"But, other than that, Lady Harriotte, you were astonishing. You danced very elegantly. You looked like a professional considering the fact that you are still young," commented Cho, looking rather amazed at the young 'princess'.
"Well, dancing is really difficult when you are a beginner, but it gets to be easy once you've learned to relax. You just have to follow the music. Let it penetrate your body and track its flow. You must not oppose it or else you will fail to give righteousness to the song," stated Harriotte, smiling at Cho.
"She's right. That's why the both of them performed very well. Oh, look at the time. I better bring Harriotte back to her quarters. I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow. Goodnight. Don't stay up so late. Let's go then," Oliver said, taking Harriotte by the shoulders and guiding her outside.
The rest then parted ways and soon only the four Gryffindors and Draco were seen walking together down the halls. Harry kept nudging Draco to talk to Ginny, but Draco was very much inattentive.
"You know what, Ron and Hermione, I think I forgot something at the Library. Can you come with me to get it? Ginny and Draco, why don't you go on ahead then? We'll be back soon. Bye!" with that they disappeared leaving two odd students stunned.
"Well! Of all the rotten things to do! Leaving me here!" Ginny demanded.
She glanced over at Draco who was still apathetic. He was so quiet and Ginny didn't know what to think of it. She was okay with Draco being friends with them but somehow, she felt uneasy knowing she is alone with him. She knows Draco wouldn't do anything bad to her, and even if he did she could defend herself, but she still feels something weird about the situation.
"Ginny?"
Ginny was awakened from her reverie with what seemed to be Draco's voice. It was different form what she normally heard form him before. The rough and angry voice was replaced with a gentle and somewhat loving tone.
"Yeah?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Would you, would you…" Draco uttered.
"Would I what?"
"Wouldyoumindgoingtothedancewithme?"
Ginny was staggered. She couldn't make out what he last said. She was completely clueless as to what the young Malfoy had just asked her.
"I'm sorry, Draco, but I don't know what you had just said. Could you repeat that again?"
"Would you mind going to the dance with me?" Draco finally said, avoiding eye contact with the red-head.
Ginny was even more shocked this time. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Did Draco Malfoy just ask me to the Yule Ball? I must be dreaming.
"Are you serious?" Ginny asked just to be sure.
Malfoy quickly looked up at her face. He nodded eagerly as if his head would come off suddenly.
Ginny took a minute to stay quiet. Only the sound of the pouring rain outside was heard.
"Alright, I'll go with you. But you better not make fun of me and you better look decent," Ginny finally said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had surrounded them.
"Of course! I promise you that! Thank you!" Malfoy practically shouted at her with joy.
Ginny laughed at this and went ahead of him. Malfoy couldn't contain his joy and started to jump around. His aura remained like that until his figure was nowhere to be seen at the Trio's view.
"Well, now that that's settled, I think we should go to sleep. I'm tired and I still plan on reading something early tomorrow morning. Let's go," Hermione told her two best friends.
They didn't really leave those two alone when they disappeared. They just hid behind a gargoyle statue that was safely placed at the corner of the hallway. They had hoped that something like that would happen once they leave and they were very delighted at the result.
The three of them parted ways at the Common Room saying their goodnights and yawning like mad. Before closing his eyes, Harry glanced at the window beside his bed and smiled. Looks like things are going pretty well right about now. Don't you think so Mom, Dad?
And soon, the Boy-Who-Lived was sent into a deep slumber, awaiting the new day ahead.