Chapter Eight: The Yule Ball and Second Task:
Harry was only slightly nervous; it was now winter break, and he was back at Hogwarts. He had Hermione, Dean and Sally Ann who would be with him. Hermione was going to the ball with him, and Dean was going with Sally Ann. This was all from Ilvermorny as Ilvermorny was having their own winter ball the same day. They were staying in the castle in guest quarters, and it was the evening of the ball. Harry and Dean would be going dressed in Ilvermorny dress uniforms, these almost looked military with the blue jackets and trousers with cranberry red trim on the jackets. Girls got to wear gowns, long ones that were modest and very pretty with full skirts and simple short sleeves and long gloves. They got to wear far more colorful things and look pretty, Harry was the thing they got to hang around, he was not the star, and he was okay with that.
What made it even better was when Hermione came down the stairs. Her hair was done up on her head in an elegant bun with curls framing her face. She was clad in a blue gown that looked like she had borrowed it from Cinderella, all but the shoes, those were silver slippers. She had not had anything done to her teeth, sure she had a slight overbite, but Harry found that cute, and it made her look very pretty he thought. She had her mother's blue sapphire necklace on and matching earrings. She glided down the stairs and walked up to him. He hardly had words; she really was beautiful to him. What he did not know is that she found him handsome and quite a catch. Dean and Sally Ann came down, she in a gown of emerald green that went well with her hair.
"Hermione you are beautiful." Harry said.
"Thank you, Harry." Hermione said, "you are very handsome yourself."
"Dean is quite the catch, smart, handsome." Sally said.
"Ah but you are very lovely my dear lady." Dean said to her.
"Shall we?" Harry said.
"Lead on good sir." Dean said.
They descended several flights of stairs and came on the entry hall. Dean motioned Harry forward and he took his place at the head of the champions and their dates. He entered the great hall and refused to let all the eyes on him make him nervous. He walked to the table he was to sit at and stood with his lady by it. He was going to make sure they knew he deserved to be here, he heard the rumors, heard the remarks due to his heritage. Boy or live or not, he was not really welcome in maj England. He wanted to stick it to them by winning this whole thing. They were motioned to sit and did so and they were able to order food from a menu and it appeared once they spoke out what they wanted.
"Brownies." Harry said, then frowned, "Brownies like to serve, always have but, well."
"We don't like slavery." Hermione said to Fleur who was seated next to her.
"We do not enslave house elves, brownies." Fleur said, "they have been free since the monarchy fell."
"Why free them, are they not happy as they are?" Krum asked, he was not trying to be rude, he just did not understand, "they are well cared for."
"Because they are people, and yes, they love to serve and should be allowed to." Hermione said, "but as a free people, if that is what they want to do."
"Good point", Roger Davies said (he was Fleur's date and somehow, he was not affected by her alure, nor was Harry), "let them serve if they want to."
The meal was excellent, and the company Harry thought was great. Hermione was beautiful and he felt a bumbling fool next to her. He was required to open the dance with the other champions and was glad that he had learned how to dance at Ilvermorny, proper ballroom dancing. He danced with Hermione and enjoyed the evening. It was clear that Hermione was part of a wealthy family, the jewels she wore were not Potter ones that was clear. They were nearly priceless, and the gown was tailored for her. She looked like she belonged with Harry and fit into the high society he was going to be part of.
What they did not know is that Hermione had learned what she needed to pull off the high society act. She had learned how to quickly and though it was an act, she was very good at it. So much so no-one would guess she was anxious and worried about how she presented herself. She looked very much like a future Lady Potter, despite her rather unfortunate blood status. Well, Harry Potter was a half-blood and his mother muggleborn. So clearly, he did not know better, but still, she clearly did fit in. Harry knew what people here thought of him, of Hermione and he was going to show them he was worth more than any of them.
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The second task took place in February though it was at the bottom of the black lake, Ilvermorny still showed up like before. Harry this time was in what looked like a wet suit but was in fact a dry suit with what looked like a clear bubble helmet that was attached to a backpack. It was Dean that hooked him up and turned a few knobs and gave him a thumbs up. On a whistle, Harry was off. He had to get Hermione, he knew she volunteered for this part and was not worried he would get to her. Because he was warm and dry, he found he could enjoy the lake, and all that was in it.
It should have got darker the lower he went, but it was getting lighter, this due to the fact that the mer village was up ahead and glow lights were lighting the way from the village. He kicked his flippers and entered the village and found Hermione sleeping peacefully in a bubble chained to a pillar. He cut her loose and kicked his way to the surface, he had an hour, his helmeted head came above the water in half an hour. He took Hermione to the shore and was helped out of his helmet by Dean, this sort of help was allowed as no magic was used. Hermione was wrapped in a blanket and given hot chocolate and Harry took a mug himself.
"So now we wait." Harry said, "I saw a little girl down there and Luna Lovegood, Krum went with someone from his school, is he friends with Luna Lovegood?"
"More than that, he saw some girls bullying her, put her under his protection." Hermione said, "he feels protective of her, like an older brother, there is nothing else but that."
"Oh, well that is sweet." Harry said, "what were you bribed with?"
"A full set of Gilroy Lockhart books." Hermione said and at a look from him "well he can write even if I don't fully believe his books and they are entertaining."
"Right, ah, I see we have Krum next!" Harry said.
"And Cedric, Cedric and Cho, they are a sweet couple." Hermione said and at Cedric nearly carrying her out, "oh he is sweet."
"There is Fleur, oh she is hurt." Harry said, "is that her sister, would she not be too young?"
"No, I don't think so." Hermione replied.
The scores were given out and Harry once more was ahead with 98 points, with his two wins under his belt it was clear he was going to be the one to beat in this whole tournament. The next closest was Krum, then Cedric and finally Fleur. Harry knew he belonged here and let others talk. At first, he wanted to be here to set a trap, but now? He wanted to win, to show he was not a little boy, that he was more than the boy who lived. He heard one of the Hogwarts students, a blond-haired boy called Draco Malfoy talking.
"I can't believe the rubbish they let in here, Harry Potter." Draco was saying. "That half-blood upstart of a mudblood mother…."
"If you are speaking of me, I would wish you would stop." Harry said getting the blond boy to turn to him. "I can and will sue you for slander, I have got the ear of your minister. He is a nice guy, gave my godfather a trial when he heard he had not had one."
"And you really are not putting Hogwarts in a good light." Fred said walking up.
"No, this is the second school that has seen Hogwarts in a not so good light." George added, "Krum saw what was happening to Luna and was not pleased, he adopted her as his sister."
"And Hermione here is a lady, she is rich in her own right." Fred said.
"Quite right, and perfect for Harry here." George added.
"My father will hear about this." Draco said.
"Yes, he will." Harry said, "I intend to write him to address the slights you have brought against house Potter and Fleamont."
"You are a cheat!" Draco snapped.
Harry was not impressed; it was clear he had not cheated at all. In fact, he made sure to follow all rules and everything he used was ICM (only a few countries still called it ICW) approved. In fact, maj England was very close to breaking the statute of secrecy by how they were acting. It was as if they wanted to create scourers. They acted superior but were one of the greatest threats out there. Many who still lived here knew that and were now working to make real changes. It was time to take down this pureblood bigot and put him in his place.
"Interesting, so following the rules to the letter, using MACUSA and ICM approved supplies, that is cheating." Harry said, "I did not put my name in this contest, but since my name came out, here I am competing."
"And I for one do not mind, he got the wrong end of the wand." Cedric said, "but he has proven he belongs here, someone was trying to set him up to look bad and that did not work."
"No, he belongs, he is very good for competing." Krum said, "I like him, and yes, as he says, Luna is my sister now, I never had younger sister before now I have."
Draco stormed off and Harry saw a vendor stand with fish and chips. He was hungry and so bought some for himself and Hermione. He was having fun and had put another pureblood brat in his place. True to his word, he did write Draco's father, but had his head of house Cole check it over before he sent it out. That should show he was not one to mess with at all. He was not expecting to get a gift, that of a house elf named Dobby as an apology. The poor thing was starved, hurt and Harry knew that this was meant as a thinly veiled insult.
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As stated before, this Harry is strong, powerful, and smart. He is not one to take anything from anyone really and yes, we know that Lucius does not like Dobby, and he thinks he has given a defective servant to Harry.
Anyway, do review please.
