Chapter 11 – Mistletoe Mayhem
When Phenix had finally managed to get away from the Great Hall and all the praise and pats on the back he was getting from fellow students he found even more waiting for him when he had got back to the Hufflepuff common room.
Everyone had taken immense house pride in the fact that a Hufflepuff was one of the champions of the first tournament. In fact Phenix had been the only Hufflepuff to emerge victorious from any of the years' competitions. Ravenclaws had won three of the tournaments, Gryffindor students had triumphed in both the second and seventh years and a Slytherin had taken the third year title. Though Phenix was now feeling very self-conscious about how much adulation and attention he was receiving and he kind of preferred it when most people just ignored him as usually happened. He felt being a champion really didn't suit him and he was glad the tournament was now over and looked forward to just sitting back and watching other students competing in the next parts of the championship.
Eventually he managed to slip away to his dorm but could still hear everyone continuing to celebrate without him. He was glad he had given his house something to cheer about, especially as they hadn't had much success in the Quidditch Cup for many years. But he thought maybe this would be the motivation they needed to spur them on and that some of his success would rub off on them. Maybe the Hufflepuff Quidditch team would surprise everyone this year and claim the title.
The following week the Hufflepuff team had their first chance to show the rest of the school if they were finally about to end their losing streak, having lost their last seven Quidditch games. But they had a tough job on their hands as their opponents were Ravenclaw, the defending champions.
Phenix had his yellow and black Hufflepuff scarf on and was sat in the stands with Jack who was disappointed that Nathan Baxter, the Hufflepuff Keeper, hadn't developed dragon pox overnight meaning he could get to play. Though Phenix was pretty sure that Jack had his fingers crossed, hoping Nathan might get hit with a Bludger and be stretchered off to the hospital wing with a broken arm so he could come on as sub.
The teams flew on to the pitch to a massive cheer as Phenix's sister led out the Ravenclaw team. But there was no family loyalty for Phenix, he was very much rooting for Hufflepuff and would quite enjoy seeing his sister lose for a change.
As Madam Hooch released the Golden Snitch and simultaneously threw the Quaffle into the air as she blew her whistle, the game began.
The sky became a blur of blue, silver, yellow and blacks as the players rushed around on their brooms in what turned out to be an exciting game.
Much to Jack's displeasure, Nathan was playing rather well and the match had been a lot closer than most had predicted. Both teams were scoring a lot of goals but Nathan was saving many too and had kept Hufflepuff in the match. Though a fairy tale start to their campaign was not meant to be for Hufflepuff. With the score almost level at one-hundred and eighty to one-hundred and seventy to Ravenclaw, the Ravenclaw Seeker caught the Golden Snitch during an impressive nosedive to the ground that no one thought they would pull up from in time. But as the Ravenclaw spectators cheered loudly as their Seeker held the Snitch up high, the hearts of all the Hufflepuff supporters dropped as once again they were the losing team.
And their loss meant they were bottom of the table, though they were only ten points behind third placed Slytherin and one-hundred and sixty points behind leaders Ravenclaw so there was still a chance for them if they did better in their remaining two matches.
As December came and the snow started to fall outside, the castle began to be decked out in Christmas decorations. Hagrid had cut down twelve huge trees for the Great Hall which had duly been decorated superbly and the Hufflepuff common room was looking very festive. Lots of garlands had been hung around the room and a big Christmas tree now stood beside the fire and was decorated in the house colours.
Some of the teachers were even getting in the Christmas mood in their lessons. In Charms Professor Flitwick taught them a very useful spell to wrap presents, in Transfiguration they were turning socks into Christmas stockings and in Muggle studies Professor Quirrell had brought in some novelty Muggle Christmas decorations. These included a light up reindeer, a dancing Santa and a toy Christmas tree that sings, which everyone found very cute and charming.
As Phenix and Jack were heading back from their Muggle Studies class and down the stairs there seemed to be quite the commotion coming from the ground floor corridor. There was a lot of laughing and giggling leaving the boys to wonder what was going on.
As they got to the bottom of the stairs they noticed hanging from the ceiling were various clusters of greenery that seemed to be sprouting and disappearing sporadically above the heads of students, some who seemed to find it funny while others were looking rather nervous.
"What is that?" Jack asked as he looked up to the ceiling.
"Mistletoe," Phenix replied as he noticed a pair of students kissing under one of the sprigs further down the hall.
"Well maybe we shouldn't walk together then cos no offence but if the only kiss I get this Christmas is from you then that's pretty depressing," Jack quipped.
"Well I'm heartbroken you feel that way," Phenix replied sarcastically but had the exact same feeling as his friend did.
Phenix then noticed one of the Weasley twins approaching a seventh year girl and blocking her way before pointing up to some mistletoe that was hanging above their heads. Phenix couldn't hear what the girl said but she immediately pushed the twin aside and walked off in a strop.
"Isn't it great?" a voice beside Phenix said and he turned to see it was the other twin standing beside him.
"I take it this is you and your brother's doing then?" Phenix asked, not sure if it was George or Fred next to him.
"I cannot confirm or deny that accusation," the twin said with a smirk before heading off to unsuccessfully try and get a kiss off a Ravenclaw girl.
"Maybe we should go a different way," Jack suggested before suddenly spotting Phia down the corridor. "Or maybe not."
Jack abruptly dashed down the corridor leaving Phenix standing alone. Phenix decided not to watch his friend's attempt to get a kiss from his sister as he knew there was no way Phia would indulge him, even if it was just a bit of fun. He quickly made his way along the corridor himself before anyone tried to get him involved in the shenanigans as he walked past numerous kissing couples.
As he was walking he was trying hard not to make eye contact with anyone so was keeping his eyes on the ground but ended up bumping into a girl from the year below. The girl smiled at him but before anything more could happen Phenix quickly apologised nervously and brushed past her, hurrying on his way.
Phenix had nearly made it to the other end of the corridor when he spotted Kyle and his friend Ryan up ahead. He knew Kyle was still bitter about losing the chess tournament to him and would take any opportunity to get some revenge, including trying to embarrass him by making him kiss some girls under the mistletoe. Not wanting a confrontation Phenix quickly ducked into an empty classroom hoping Kyle hadn't spotted him.
Phenix stood by the door with it slightly ajar so there was just enough space for him to peer out and see when the coast was clear for him to leave again.
"You hiding from someone too?" a voice asked, making Phenix jump as he thought he was alone and he turned to see Charlie Weasley leaning up against one of the desks.
"What? Oh yeah right. There's just someone I'd rather not see right now," Phenix said rather flustered.
"Me too. I thought I'd wait it out in here till they're gone," Charlie said now moving over to Phenix and standing behind him as he peered out the crack in the door too. "There's this girl who won't leave me alone."
Charlie was so close behind Phenix that their bodies were almost touching and Phenix could almost feel a surge of energy pulsating through his body.
Charlie continued to lean over Phenix's shoulder for a better look and his hair brushed the side of Phenix's face, making his whole body quiver.
Phenix tried to calm himself as his eyes moved up when he noticed something moving above the door. Through the gap at the top a sprig of mistletoe was growing in from the corridor and was now hanging above their heads. Phenix turned to look at Charlie but he was still looking straight ahead into the corridor and hadn't noticed the plant above them. Phenix wasn't sure if he should say something. He could make it just seem like a casual remark or a joke to see how Charlie reacted and then take it from there. He probably wouldn't get a better chance than this to see if Charlie had any interest towards him.
As Phenix tried to muster up the courage to say something there was suddenly shouting in the corridor.
"What is all this nonsense?!" the distinct voice of Professor Snape bellowed before a flash of light lit up the corridor and swiftly all the mistletoe disappeared including the sprig that had been above Charlie and Phenix's head.
As Snape continued to rant furiously in the corridor Charlie pushed the door open a little more.
"We'd better go," Charlie said before slipping out into the corridor leaving Phenix alone in the classroom.
Phenix pulled the door shut and leaned against it, cursing himself for his missed opportunity.
On the last day of term the school was having a Christmas feast in the Great Hall. The tables were filled with honey glazed hams, butter roasted turkeys, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and a mountain of veg. And then for dessert the students were presented with numerous options including Christmas pudding with custard, yule log, gingerbread cheesecake, baked Alaska and the biggest trifle Phenix had ever seen. By the time they had finished eating Phenix was sure he had put on at least a stone.
After dinner they were treated to some Christmas carols from the school choir before Dumbledore took centre stage to make an end of term announcement.
"Good evening students and Merry Christmas," he said with a beaming smile.
The headmaster had certainly dressed for the occasion in bright red robes with silver stars that seemed to twinkle. And what with his big white beard he could have passed for Father Christmas if he'd only been on the larger side.
"Firstly may I thank Professor Flitwick and the school choir for their most moving performance. Never has Silent Night sounded so beautiful than when being performed by students and several bullfrogs," Dumbledore commented before leading another round of applause for the choir. "Now as I mentioned before as part of our millennial celebrations we will be having a ball and I can now confirm this will be taking place in the second week of January."
There were excited murmurs around the hall as numerous students turned to their friends in delight, already thinking about what they'd wear and who they'd like to go with. Phenix wasn't one of those students though. The idea of a ball didn't interest him much. He didn't know how to dance, he didn't like the idea of having to dress up in fancy robes and he knew no one would ask him to be their date.
"As well as the ball the second part of the Hogwarts Championship will be taking place. This will be a duelling tournament," announced Dumbledore as he flicked his wand upwards and all the banners around the hall now sported logos showing two crossed wands.
There was once again another reaction from the students, this time more excited than that for the ball, as students wanted to start discussing with their friends whether they'd enter or not. Dumbledore didn't wait for the clamour to die down before he continued with his announcement.
"More details of the tournament will be given next year and signup sheets have already been placed in everyone's common room. Please sign up before the first Friday back after Christmas if you wish to enter. And that just leaves me to say have a wonderful holiday and remember if you ever find yourself alone with an Acromantula that plans to eat you, see if you can get it to grant you one last request and challenge it to a tap dancing competition. It just may save your life," Dumbledore said with a wink before making his way to leave the hall.
"I'm glad Dumbledore has never taught us Defence Against the Dark Arts. We'd all be dead in no time for sure," joked Jack as everyone gave the headmaster a rousing applause as he walked out. "So a duelling tournament should be fun."
"I don't think I'm going to enter," Phenix said, having little enthusiasm for the activity.
"Why not? You're currently leading the championship for our year," Jack stated as students began to make their way back to their common rooms.
"Yeah because the first tournament was Wizard Chess, which I'm good at. I'm no good at duelling. There's no way I'd be anywhere near the top of the leader board after this tournament if I entered it. I might as well quit while I'm ahead and before someone hits me with a shrunken head curse in a match," Phenix joked and started thinking about all the other curses he could be hit with and thought there was no way he'd put himself through that.
"I'm sure Charlie would be disappointed to see you not taking part," Jack said, trying to goad his friend into entering.
"That's not going to work Jack. I'm not going to enter and that's final."
As soon as they got to the common room Jack joined the throngs of people crowded around the noticeboard, eagerly trying to write their names down for the duelling tournament.
One of the Hufflepuffs had managed to sneak in a couple of crates of Butterbeer from somewhere and everyone had decided to have an impromptu party as it was the last day of term. Soon music was being played and a few students had managed to get the house elves to provide some food and the party was quickly in full swing as Phenix hung out with a group of students from his year.
"So chess champion, Jack tells us you're not going to enter the next tournament?" Scott said as Phenix returned with some more Butterbeer for them all.
"Duelling isn't my thing," Phenix replied as he handed the glasses around.
"But it's the taking part that counts," Amelia noted as she took her glass from Phenix.
"It is the unofficial Hufflepuff motto after all," Scott joked as he downed his Butterbeer in one.
"Does anyone know who they're going to take to the ball yet?" Gus said, changing the subject.
"I'm sure Zain will be asking Emily," Amelia said as she looked between the pair and could see Emily begin to go red in the face.
"What about you Phenix? Got your eye on any guys?" Gus asked and Phenix went almost as red as Emily had now his love life was being probed.
"Are there even any other gay guys in our year?" Scott asked before Phenix could answer the previous question.
Phenix had to admit that he didn't know of any and he only knew of a couple of others in the other years and none of which were his type. He didn't hold out much hope of getting a date for the ball.
"Me and you can go together as friends Phenix if we don't get any dates. Most of the guys in our year are too immature for me anyway," Amelia said just as Scott was using the left over foam from his glass of Butterbeer to draw a moustache on his face and everyone burst out laughing.
"I'm sure you'll get a date Phenix. You are the chess champion after all," Scott noted, having now wiped the foam moustache off.
"Yeah and just imagine if you won the duelling tournament too. Even I'd be your date then," Gus said half-jokingly.
Phenix knew realistically he didn't have much hope of winning the duelling competition but suddenly he realised it would be a great opportunity to get Charlie to pay him back for helping him to train for the chess tournament. If Charlie helped him prepare for it they would get to spend a lot of time together and get to know each other better. Phenix's mind began to wander at the thought.
By the time the party was over and Phenix and his friends had headed up to their dormitories for bed there was one more name on the very bottom of the duelling tournament signup sheet – 'Phenix Moon'.