A/N: I'm going to make this clear. I don't own the Harry Potter series or it's characters. That right goes to JK Rowling
If you haven't yet, read before this story:
The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Sorcerer's Stone
The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Chamber of Secrets
The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Prisoner of Azkaban
Also if you haven't please take part on voting for which story you want me to update next month
The Yule Ball
Harry should have known better than telling Lanvender and Parvali that he was taking Luna to the dance, because gossip spread quickly about it. Harry didn't regret asking Luna but of course Malfoy was relentless on the news.
It didn't help fourth years were given heavy load of homework for the holidays. But Harry made the best of it. Gryffindor Tower was hardly less crowded now than during term time, it seemed to have shrunk slightly too, as it inhabitants were being so much rowdier than usual. Fred and George had had a great success with their Canary Creams, and for the first couple of days of the holidays, people kept bursting into feather all over the place. Before long, however, all Gryffindors had learned to treat food anybody else offered them with extreme, in case it had a Canary Cream concealed in the center, and George confided to Harry that he and Fred were now working on developing something else. Harry made a mental note never to accept so much as a crisp from Fred and George in the future.
SNow was falling thickly upon the castle and its grounds now. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage looked like a large, chilly, frosted pumpkin next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, while the Durmstrang shi's portholes were glazed with ice, the riggings white with frost. The house elves down in the kitchen were outdoing themselves with a series of rich, warming stews and savory puddings and only Fleur Delacour seemed to be able to find anything to complain about.
"It is too 'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food," they heard her saying grumpily as they left the Great Hall behind her one evening (Ron skulking behind Harry, keen not to be spotted by Fleud. "I will not fit into my dress robes."
"Oooh there's a tragedy," Hermione snapped as Fleur went out into the entrance hall. "She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?"
"Hermione-who are you going to the ball with?" said Ron.
He kept springing this question on her, hoping to startle her into a response by asking it when she least expected it. However, Hermione merely frowned and said, "I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me."
"You're joking, Weasley!" said Malfoy behind them. "You're not telling me not only Potter asked Loony Lovegood ,but someone asked that to the ball? Not the long molared Mudblood? Standards must have dropped or something."
Harry and Ron both whipped around but Hermione said loudly, waving to somebody over Malfoy's shoulder, "Hello, Professor Moody!"
Malfoy went pale and jumped backward looking wildly around for Moody, but he was still at the staff table, finishing his stew.
"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" said Hermione scathingly as she Harry, Ron andNeville went up the marble staircase laughing heartily..
"Hermione," said Ron, looking sideways at her, suddenly frowning, "your teeth..."
"What about them?" she said.
"Well, they're different... I just noticed..."
"Of course they are-did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy gave me?"
"No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you... they're all... straight and-and normal."
Hermione suddenly smiled very mischievously, but unlike Ron Harry noticed it sooner. He just didn't make a big deal out of it.
"Well... when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk down, she held up a mirror and told me to stop her when they were back to how they normally were," she said, "And I just... let her carry on a bit." She smiled more widely. "Mom and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my braces. You know, they're dentist, they just don't think teeth and magic should mix!"
"They must take pride in their work." Harry said. "Uncle Vernon is the same way about his job. Any time dad try to compare magic to drills and stuff Uncle Vernon blows a gasket. Sometimes I think Dad does it on purpose just for the laugh of it."
...
Harry slept in his dad's living quarters for Christmas as it was his own personal get away from Gryffindor Tower without having to leave Hogwarts. On Christmas Day, Harry awoke very suddenly. Wondering what had caused his abrupt return to consciousness, he opened his eyes and saw something very large, round, green eyes staring back at him the darkness, so close they were almost nose to nose.
"I really wish you won't do that Dobby," Harry grumbled as it wasn't the first time Dobby did this.
"Dobby is sorry, sir!" squeaked Dobby anxiously, jumping backward with his long fingers over his mouth. "Dobby is only wanting to wish Harry Potter 'Merry Chrstmas' and bring him a present, sir."
"Thanks," Harry said. "Come on. Dad and I open presents at in the main room."
Harry got up and took Dobby to the main living quarters where a Christmas tree stood with presents under it. James and Remus were sitting around a coffee table drinking hot chocolate. Sirius was there.
"Happy Christmas, Harry," Sirius greeted.
"Happy Christmas, Uncle Padfoot.
"Can Dobby give Harry Potter his present?" he suqeaked tentatively as he was scared he upset Harry. There was a Christmas bauble tied to the loop on top of his tea cozy.
"'Course you can," said Harry, "Dad and I got something for you too."
Harry took out a package and handed it to Dobby. Dobby opened it to see two different sizes socks, one was from Harry the other was James, After last year they realized Dobby think pair of socks should be different from each other. Dobby was utterly delighted.
"Socks are Dobby's favorite, favorite clothes," he said, clipping off his odd ones and pulling on his new ones. "I has seven now."
Dobby now handed Harry a small package, which turned out to be socks.
"Dobby is making them himself, sir!" the elf said happily. "He is buying the wool out of his wages, sir!"
The left sock was bright red and had pattern of broomsticks upon it; the right socko was green with a pattern of snitches.
"Thanks Dobby," Harry said putting them on.
"Why don't you stay a bit Dobby," James offered.
"Dobby must go now, sir, we is already making Christmas dinner in the kitchens!" said Dobby, and he hurried out of the dormitory, waving goodbye as he passed.
Harry's other presents were great, Hermione got Harry a book called Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland; Ron, a bulging bag of Dungbombs. Sirius gave Harry a book on offensive and defensive spells to use in Duels (incase Harry need them in the next two task. Remus got Harry a book on magical creatures (again to help Harry in the next two task) Hagrid got Harry a vast box of sweets including all of Harry's favorites: Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean (Harry can't wait to compete with his friends to sée who can get the most good beans), Chocolate Frogs Drooble;s Best Blowing Gum, and Fizzing Qhizbee. Andromeda made Harry some home made fudge that Harry loved as Tonks got him a new Wand polishing kit. Luna's dad even send Harry and James both some kind of horn from one of the magical creatures the Quibbler does articles on that haven't been proven real as thanks for getting the Quibbler to cover the Triwizard Tournament as it really boosted the Quibbler's number of readers. Mrs. Wealey usual package included a new sweater (green, with a picture of a dragon on it00Harry supposed Charlie had told her all about the Horntail, and a strange quantity of homemade mince pies. Harry even got a book from his Muggle Studies professor on more muggle warfare (incase you plan to cooperate more muggle warfare in the next two task' a note read.)
Harry met up with his friends in the Great hall for breakfast. Ron was wearing a Chudley Cannon Hat Harry got him which clashed with his red hair. They spent most of the morning in James' ;iving quarters as the Gryffindor Common room was crowded, then returned to the Great hall for a magnificent lunch, which included at least a hundred turkey and Christmas puddings, and large lipes of Cribbage Wizarding Crackers.
They went out onto the grounds in the afternoon, the snow was untouched except for the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way to the castle. Hermione chose to watch Harry Neville and the Weasleys snowball fight rather than join in, and at five o'clock she and Ginny were going back up stairs to get ready for the ball.
"What, you need three hours?" said Ron, looking at her incredulously and paying for his lapse in concentration when a large snowball thrown by George hit him hard on the side of the head. "Who are you going with?" He yelled after Hermione, but she just waved as she and Ginny disappeared up the stone steps into the castle.
"I think it's just a girl thing to get ready hours ahead of schedule," Harry said. "Dad told me Mum was the same way on their wedding night."
There was no Christmas tea today, as the ball included a feast, so at seven o'clock when it had become hard to aim properly, the others abandon their snowball fight and trooped back to the common room including Harry as he left his dress robes in his dormitory so he can head down to the entrance hall with Ron and Neville. The Fat Lady was sitting in her frame with her friend Violet from downstairs, both of them extremely tipsy, empty boxes of chocolate liqueurs littering the bottom of her picture. Harry was glad Durmstrang and Beauxbaton didn't come up to the Gryffindor Common Room, because he was sure this would embarrass McGonagall if the foreign students saw the Fat Lady like this.
"Lairy Fights, that's the one!" she giggled when they gave the password, and she swung forward to let them inside.
Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean changed into their dress robes up in their dormitory Harry added Beauxbatons and Durmstrang's pins to his dress robes. McGonagall didn't say he had to wear them, but Harry figured he might as well since he's representing all three schools., All of boys looking very self conscious, but none as much as Ron, who surveyed himself in the long mirror in the corner with an appalled look on his face. There was just no getting around the fact that his robes look more like a dress than anything else. In a desperate attempt to make them look more manly, he used a severing charm on the ruffs and cuffs. It looked fairly well; at least he was now lace free, although he hadn't don't a very neat job, and the edges still looked depressingly frayed.
"Hold on," Harry said taking out his wand. "Repairo."
Harry waved his wand and the frayed area fixed itself.
"Thanks," Ron said as they headed downstairs.
"No problem." Harry said.
"I still can't believe you snag Parvati sister, Ron," Dean said.
The other day Parvati told Harry Padma would go with Ron and Harry was able to break the news with Ron that he found him a date. Ron wasn't too keen that Harry had to get a date for him, but he took it since Padma wasn't bad looking.
Ginny met up with Neville in the common room and Parvati met up with Dean. Parvati was there too, in a shocking pink robes, with her long dark plait braided with gold, and gold bracelets glimmering at her wrist. Harry nudges Ron as this should give him an idea what his date might look like.
"Thank you Harry for the dress," Ginny told Harry as they met as she was wearing a scarlet dress.
"No problem. I'm glad you like my mum's dress," Harry said.
Just as James and Harry decided to pass Lilly's old school supplies to Ginny, they decided to give Ginny one of Lilly's old dress robes since third years weren't required to have dress robes. And like Lily's old school supplies, her dress robes were well preserved too. According to James, Molly wanted to protest, but James reminded her that he already gave Fred and George his old dress robes, so it's okay to give Ginny one of Lily's dresses.
"Padma's going to meet you in the entrance hall," Parvati told Ron.
"That works since I'm meeting up with Luna down there too," Harry said. "We can go down together to meet up with them."
"Right," said Ron, looking around, "Where's Hermione?"
Parvati shrugged and she and Dean headed down with Lavender and Seamus. Ginny and Nevillle headed down as well leaving Ron and Harry following them to meet up with their dates. Fred winked at Harry as passed him with Angelina ion the way to the portrait hole. Harry had to admit, Fred looked good in his dad's old dress robes.
The entrance hall was packed with students, all milling around waiting for o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. THose people who were meeting partners from a different house or school were edging through the crowd to find one another. Ron left with Parvati and Dean to look for Padma (Harry hoped him fixing Ron's dress robes at least would help him look decent to Padma) as Harry searched for Luna.
Finding Luna was actually easier than Harry thought because she stood from the side of the rest of the students. She was wearing a set of silver robes tat were attracting certain amount of giggles from on lookers. Other than that, Harry had to admit Fred had a good point. Luna looked good despite her reputation as Loony Luna to the rest of the school.
"Hi," Harry greeted.
"Hello, Harry," Luna said. "Where's Ron, Neville, and Hermione?"
"Neville is with Ginny and Ron is looking for his date," Harry said. "We don't know where Hermione is. She wasn't in the common room when we left." Harry showed his arm as Sirius had taught him when escorting a date. "Come on. Let's head to the doors."
Luna took his arm and they passed through the crowd. Harry Was a school champion and was supposed to bring a partner anyways, so Harry had decided to make it look that way instead as someone being forced to participate in this dance. Plus with all the gossip Parvati and Lavender helped spread, he wanted to make clear he wasn't embarrassed to be around Luna whether they were here as friends or as a returning favor.
Harry saw Fleur Delacour passing, looking stunning in robes of silver-gray satin, and accompanied by the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, Roger Davis.
I guess Fleur wasn't able to charm Cedric into going with her to the ball after all, Harry thought.
A group of Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front, he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which in Harry's opinión made him look like a vicar. Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's arm. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green, they resembled moss-colored boulders, and neither of them seem to have managed to find a partner.
Good thing I got Ron a date and we fixed his dress robes, Harry thought.
It would be bad enough for Ron if he ended up dateless like Crabbe and Goyle, but he was sure Malfoy would be relentless about it too ontop of wearing frills.
At that moment, Ron appeared with Padma who was looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise. Padma didn't look too enthusiastic having Ron as a partner, and judging from Ron's expression, the feelings were still mutual.
The oak front doors opened, and everyone turned to look as Durmstrang students entered with Professor Karkaroff. Over their heads Harry saw an area of lawn right in front of the castle had been transformed into a sort of grotto full of fairy lights-meaning hundreds of actual living fairies were sitting in the rosebushes that had been conjured there, and fluttering over the statues of what seem to be father christmas and his reindeer.
Krum was at the front of the party with someone Harry wasn't expecting: Hermione. Harry thought his eyes were tricking him as Hermione didn't look like herself, but it was her. She made her hair sleek and shiny in controversy of the usual bushy, and had it twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle blue material, and she was holding herself differently. SHe was smiling-rather nervously-but the reduction of her front teeth was more noticeable than ever.
Harry starts to see how Hermione thought Ron Neville and him might laugh if she told them she was going to the ball with Krum. Since his arrival she has been mouthing off about the fangirls chasing him around and how they only like Krum because he was famous and then it turns out she was going to the Yule Ball with him. Harry didn't know if he would indeed laugh at the thought (He probably wouldn't have laughed after asking Luna to the dance), but he would definitely be surprised.
Then Professor McGonagall's voice called. Champions over here, please!" Harry led Luna toward, the chattering crowd parting to let them through. Professor McGonagall, who was wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a rather ugly wreath of thistles around the brim of her hat, told them to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside, they were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down.
Fleur and Roger Davis stationed themselves nearest the doors; Davies looked so stunned by his good fortune in having Fleur for a partner that he could hardly take his eyes off her.
Harry saw Cedric and Cho were together which was not surprising. Harry knew the two had feelings for each other. But he didn't know Cedric asked Cho to the ball. He wondered if Cedric got Cho to set Fleur up with Davis since Davis and Cho were both on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
Krum and Hermione were not far from Harry and Luna.
"Hi, Luna. Hi, Harry," Hermione said.
"Hi!" Both of them said.
The doors of the great hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing Hermione looks of deepest loathing. Pansy Parkinson gaped at her as she walked by Malyfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able to find an insult to throw at her. Neville and Ron passed by with Ginny and Padma and although Neville was completely shock, Ron didn't even look at her.
Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.
The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garland of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating a dozen people. It was rare for Hogwarts students to get to sit together like this in the Great Hall despite their houses.
Only few times in the last two years it had happened: first time after Harry took down the Basilisk and Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets and again last year when Wormtail tried to break into Gryffindor common room forcing all students to sleep in the Great Hall.
Harry tried his best not to trip over his feet. Luna was keeping his pace, seemingly ignoring the looks the two were getting. Harry noticed Ron and Padma were with Neville, Ginny, Seamus, Lavender, Dean and Parvati. A part of Harry felt bad for Padma as she was the only Ravenclaw in the table of Gryffindors and Ron was not helping as he was watching Hermione pass with narrowed eyes.
At least Padma is with her sister, Harry thought.
James Sirius and Remus were at one of the staff tables with, too Harry's surprise, Tonks. All of them dressed nicely as Harry figured his dad lend uncle moony one of his dress robes for the occasion.
Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkoroff wore an expression remarkably like Ron's as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping an enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for a glowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them with Hagrid (much to Harry's amazement) sitting next to her. Harry guessed Hagrid was at the table as Madame Maxime's date.
He thought the whole date thing the night he saw the dragons was just a set up Madame Maxime did to see what was being set up for the first task, but he was happy to see that he might have been wrong and/or Hagrid really did impressed her enough to get a second date. The fifth seat however wasn't occupied by Mr. Crouch but rather by Percy Weasley.
When the champions and their partners reached the table, Percy drew out the empty chair beside him, staring pointedly at Harry. Harry didn't need to be told twice and drew out the chair next to the one Percy pulled for Luna (another advice Sirius gave Harry), before taking his seat next to Percy. Percy nodded approvingly at Harry's gesture. Percy can be described as many things by his brothers (and by Harry and Neville at times) but even Percy knows and recognize an act of a gentleman.
Percy was wearing a brand-new, navy blue dress robes and an expression of such smugness Harry thought it ought to be fined.
"I've been promoted," Percy said before Harry could even ask, and from his tone, he might have been announcing his election as supreme ruler of the universe. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."
"Congratulations," Harry said. "What's wrong with Mr. Crouch, though?"
"I'm afraid to say Mr. Crouch isn't feeling well, not well at all. Hasn't been right since the World Cup. Hardly surprising-overworked. He's not as young as he was-though still brilliant, of course the mind remains as great as it ever was. But the World Cup was a fiasco for the whole Ministry, and then, Mr. Crouch suffered a huge personal shock with the misbehavior of that House-elf fo his, Blinky-"
"Winky," Harry corrected.
"Right. Naturally he dismissed her immediately afterward, but-well, as I say, he's getting on, he needs looking after, and I think he's found a definite drop in his home comforts since she left. And then we had the tournament to arrange, and the aftermath of the Cup to deal with-that revolting Skeeter woman buzzing around-no, poor man, he's having a well earned, quiet Christmas. I'm just glad he knew he had someone he could rely upon to take his place. Of course it also helps that the Quibbler is taking to actual news for once by covering the Triwizard Tournament. They become a lifesaver for the entire Ministry. The entire Wizengamot is considering having the Quibbler take over the news of the Tournament entirely after Dumbledore forbade that Skeeter woman from entering school grounds."
Harry didn't know whether to tell Percy to shut up or ask him more about the decision on the Quibbler with Luna sitting there.
"It's all right Harry. I heard it all before," Luna reassure Harry.
Maybe so, but it didn't make it right. Bur Harry knew Percy was just being Percy: Telling this as it is from his point of view of what those he respect been saying.
There was no food as yet on glittering golden plates, but small menus were lying in front of each of them. Harry picked his up and uncertainly and loooked around. There were no waiters, so Harry guess the food was suppose to appear magically, As though reading Harry's thoughts, Dynbledore said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!"
And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too. Even Hermione didn't seem to care of the extra work it meant for the House Elves as she was in deep conversation with Krum.
Ir now occurred to Harry that he had never actually heard Krum speak before, but he certainly was talking now, and very enthusiastically at that.
"Vell, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking. Definitely didn't have an enchanted ceiling." he was telling Hermione. "Ve have just four floors and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds larger even than these-though in vinter ve have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and mountains-"
"Now, now, Viktor!" said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes, "don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy... one would almost think you didn't want visitors."
"Well, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, displaying his yellowing teeth to their fullest extent, "we are all protective of our private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"
"Oh I would never dream assuming I know all Hogwarts secrets, Igor," Dumbledore admitted. "Why until last year, I didn't even know where the entrance where Salazar Slytherin hid the Chamber of Secrets until Harry, Hermione, and a few more of their friends discovered it two years ago."
"We had a bit of help," Harry admitted as Hermione blushed with embarrassment.
"Then there's the fact that last year alone proved that the first generation of Marauders might know even more secrets long forgotten," Dumbledore said.
Harry knew what Dumbledore was talking about as Wormtail was able to sneak in using secret entrances his dad had forgotten about.
Meanwhile Fleur Delacour was criticizing Hogwarts declarations to Roger Davis.
"Zis is nothing," she said dismissively, looking around a the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. "At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course... zey are like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we have choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave non of zis ugly armor in ze 'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entraired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be expelled like zat. She slapped her hand on the table impatiently.
Rager Davies was watching her talk with a very dazed look on his face, and ke kept missing his mouth with his fork. Harry had the impression that Davies was too busy staring at Fleur to take in word she was saying.
"Absolutely right," he said, quickly slapping his own hand down on the table imitation of Fleur. "Like that. Yeah."
"Hermione, didn't you tell me once there was a chapter in A History of Hogwarts that explains why Peeves is allowed to stay at Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Oh, yeah, it did. Thank you for reminding me, Harry," Hermione said. "One of the previous caretakers: Rancorous Carpe had tried to contain Peeves using containment charm and assorted weapons and a vast enchanted bell jar. But Peeves broke out quickly and was armed with all the weapons used. The castle had to be evacuated for three days. The Headmistress of the time Eupraxia Mole agreed to sign a contract with Peeves, so that he relinquished the weapons in exchange for additional privileges."
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore agreed. "Since then we dealt with Peeves and his pranks, but we never tried to contain or expel him to keep him from making death threats once more. I had to often remind Filch of that bit of history."
That didn't end Fleur's complaints but it did put an end on the topic of Peeves at least.
Hermione spent part of dinner trying to get Krum to say her name properly as he kept calling her "Hermy-own. They got as far as Herm-own-ninny. Which was closer than Hermy-own.
Harry had a good evening with roasted chicken and mash potatoes. Cedric and Cho brought up a conversation with Luna about how Cedric's dad was ecstatic over the Quibbler's interview. Cedric and Cho didn't once called Luna loony or question her about her beliefs from her dad's magazines even when Luna brought it up.
When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.
The Weird SIsters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their nearly forgotten about the dance part, until all the lanterns gone out, and the other champions and their partners were standing up.
Harry rose and helped Luna up. They walked onto the brightly lit dance floor carefully avoiding catching anyone's eye, and took the dance position his dad had taught him but he never thought he had to actually do. Harry placed one hand around Luna's waist and holding the other tightly,
It wasn't as bad as Harry thought revolving in spot with Luna. He tried not to look at others but every now and then he spot something. Neville and Ginny were dancing nearby-albeit Neville often trod on Ginny's feet (Harry doubt he was doing any better) and Hagrid and Madame Maxime was waltzing. Too his surprise Remus was dancing with Tanks and Dumbledore taken to dancing with Professor McGonagall. Harry figured it was just between friends with Dumbledore and McGonagall since as a judge Dumbledore was required to dance with someone.
When Harry heard the final, quavering note from the bagpipe with relief. The weird sisters stopped planting and applause filled the hall once more.
"We can dance some more if you like," Harry offered as the next song was a good one (one of his favorites actually)
"No, it's okay. I don't want to force you to dance if you don't want to," Luna said.
They led off the dance floor, past Fred and Angelina, who were dancing so exuberantly that people around theim were backing away inf ear of injury, They took a seat where Ron and Padma were sitting.
"How's it going?" Harry asked Ron, sitting down and opening a bottle of butterbeer.
Ron didn't answer. He was glaring at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby. Padma was sitting with her arms and legs crossed, one foot jiggling in time to the music, as she was glaring at her sister who was dancing with Dean.
"Ron, I think Padma wants to dance some more," Harry said.
Ron didn't respond. Not even when a boy from Beauxbatons basically took Padma from him as they danced and never returned.
"Geez, Ron, I go to an extent to get you a partner, and you lost her not even halfway through the night," Harry said. Ron wasn't reacting.
"It's hot, isn't it?" said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. "Viktor just gone to get some drinks."
"Thanks again for helping me defend Hogwarts back there," Harry said.
"No problem. It ended up impressing Viktor some more," Hermione said. "You're right Harry. Durmstrang doesn't have as much stuff as Hogwarts, or Beauxbatons. They have poltergeist, but never had one made a death threat like Peeves did."
"Hogwarts always full of interesting history," Luna agreed.
Ron gave Hermione a withering look. "Viktor?" he said. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"
Hermione looked at him in surprise. "What's up with you?" she said.
"If you don't know," said Ron sarcastically. "I'm not going to tell you."
Hermione stared at Ron, then at Harry who just shrugged.
"Ron, what-?"
"He's from Durmstrang!" spat Ron. "He's competing against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You-you're-" Ron was obviously castin around for words strong enough to describe Hermione's crime, "fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"
Hermione's mouth fell open.
"Ah, you know what, Luna, I'm in a mood to dance some more," Harry said, not wanting to get caught in the middle of the tension between Hermione and Ron, especially not with Neville there to help him out.
"Don't be stupid!" she said after a moment. "The enemy! Honestly-who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?"
Luna didn't argue as she got up and they headed to the dance floor to dance some more until the next song although it wasn't much of a dance as all attention was on Ron and Hermione arguing very loud.
Shortly after Hermione ended the argument by running off Krum showed up trying to find her.
"Sorry about that," Harry told Luna deciding to give up on trying to dance. "I didn't want to be caught between Ron and Hermione's argument."
"It's fine really. I'm having a good time," Luna said. "I'll admit this is the most eventful night I ever had."
Harry decided to sit with James and Sirius at their table.
"You two having a fun time," James asked.
"If by dodging Hermione and Ron arguing each other a fun time, then yes," Harry said.
"Oh boy," James sighed
"I remember when it was you in Ron's shoes Prongs," SIrius laughed.
"Where's Moony?" Harry asked.
"Still with Tonks," SIrius said. "You should have seen it Harry. Tonks practically dragged your uncle to the dance floor saying it would be awkward to dance with her cousin and she knew your dad's heart was still for your mum."
"I would of said yes," James argued. "Besides, at least Moony get to be happy for the night."
"Vare is Herm-own-ninny?" said a voice.
Krum arrived at the table clutching two butterbeers. Harry turned to Ron's table and found him moping by himself now.
"Sorry, I don't know," Harry admitted.
"She is over there, Viktor," Remus showed up pointing elsewhere. "She's talking with Tonks. You can't miss her as Tonks either has pink hairif not changing her physical appearance.."
"Thank you professor," Viktor bowed and left.
"Lost Tonks, Moony?" Sirius asked.
"She's talking with Hermione to try and calm her down," Remus said. "We-ah-heard the entire argument."
"Hermione isn't angry at me is she?" Harry asked.
"If she is, it'll past. You were just trying to avoid getting caught in a middle of a bad argument," Remus said. "I'm sure it didn't help you didn't have Neville there to back you up as the middle man."
Harry nodded. The rest of the night went pretty much uneventful. But Luna reassure Harry she was still having a good time. Harry tried to make up for the mess he got her caught in with some dances to some of his favorite songs. Harry noticed Krum had indeed found Hermione and were dancing once more. But Madame Maxime seem to have ditch Hagrid sometime in the night as she was no longer dancing with Hagrid.
Harry saw Neville during one dance and decided to give him the heads up.
"Ron and Hermione are fighting again," Harry warned Neville.
"Now?" Neville asked.
"Yep. You remember what this means right?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Neville said "Avoid being in the same room as the two of them together and don't bring up one to the other until things calm down."
"Really, guys, this again?" Ginny asked.
"Hey it helped us out every time you and Ron get into fights," Harry argued.
Ginny didn't argue but she didn't like it. Harry does take side from time to time but when it comes to things like crushes or personal stuff, Harry like Neville try not to get involved.
After one dance, Ron showed up and dragged Harry away.
"Karkaroff is a Death eater!" Ron said.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I just overheard him talking with Snape. They use to be death eaters together," Ron said. "Karkaroff was acting scared talking about running off together."
"Um okay," Harry said. "So you think he put my name in the goblet."
"I doubt it," Luna said. "He made too many enemies with the death eaters when he reveal their names in return of being released from Azkaban."
Harry and Ron looked at her incredulously.
"My father was digging into the case after his trial," Luna said. "He was hoping there was something the Quibbler can use from it."
Both shrugged as it didn't surprise them.
"I got to agree with Luna," Harry said. "If he turned in Death Eaters for freedom, he wouldn't risk putting my name in the cup."
"Great now! You're taking Loo-I mean Luna's side?" Ron asked.
"Don't go there Ron!" Harry said. "We've been friends for too long for you to know better than to drag me and Neville into taking sides. I'm not saying I don't believe you but by the sound of it, Snape is more likely to have put my name in the Goblet than Karkaroff."
Ron sighed in frustration. "Whatever." Ron headed off and disappeared into the crowd.
When the Weird Sisters finished playing at midnight, everyone gave them a last, loud round of applause and started to wend their way into the entrance hall. Many people were expressing the wish that the ball could have gone on longer, but Harry was happy it was finally over. The whole night been a mess, and although Luna seemed fine with everything (still saying it was the most eventful night of her life), he still felt bad for dragging her along with it.
Harry said night to Luna at the Entrance hall, not daring to look at Ron and Hermione.
"Hey Harry!" someone called..
Harry turned to see Cedric Diggory.
"Hey Cedric," Harry said. "What's up?"
""Listen..." Cedric lowered his voice. "I owe you one for telling me about the dragons. You know that golden egg? Does yours wail when yours open it?"
"Yeah, It's the sound of merpeople singing when they're out of the water," Harry said getting a incredulous look from Cedric. "Moaning Myrtle." Cedric nodded knowing Harry is possibly only living and dead person the ghost of one of the girl's bathrooms get along with. "Anyways, I haven't been able to get some privacy to try and listen to the egg underwater."
"Tell you what," Cedric said. "Use the prefects' bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor."
"I know the one," Harry said now interested.
"Right. Password's pine fresh."
A relief washed over Harry as he realized what Cedric was doing and was very grateful for it. Cedric said his goodbyes and Harry headed up to his dad's sleeping Quarters, mostly because it was still winter break , but partly because he knew Ron and Hermione were arguing in the common room.
A/N: Just to clear things up, Remus and Tonks's feelings won't come from nowhere during the Yule ball. Since Sirius never went to Azkaban Remus and Tonks got to know each other longer than in the original series.