Chapter 7 - The Yule Ball
Harry and Hermione were rather rudely woken up by Dobby stating that Minerva and Severus needed to get in and talk to them. Bleary-eyed they went to the portrait and let them in.
"THAT MISERABLE BASTARD DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT GINEVRA!" Snape bellowed as soon as the portrait was closed.
"Happy Christmas to you too, Uncle."
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT OLD GOAT SAID? WELL, HE SAID HE WOULD DO SOMETHING AND THEN HE GOES AND SAYS HE LOST THE EVIDENCE, SO THEREFORE, HE CAN'T SUSPEND OR DO ANYTHING TO GINEVRA!"
"SEVERUS TOBIAS SNAPE, Calm down. You don't want to give yourself a heart attack now do you? Oh, and Happy Christmas, Harry, Hermione."
It took awhile, but the group finally managed to calm Severus down.
"Sorry about that. I am just so mad. However, Happy Christmas."
"It's alright," the other three said.
They were all enraged that Dumbledore would "lose" the evidence. All wanted to see justice done, but unfortunately they couldn't do anything about it.
Seeing as how it was the day of the Yule Ball, the family decided to go over last minute preparations while eating breakfast. They knew they would be leaving after the ball by portkey and would arrive at Potter Manor. Then Mr. Lovegood and Lady Regent Longbottom would floo over and they would spend the day mostly at the manor, with a side trip to St. Mungo's to see the Longbottoms. The group would also spend the rest of the holiday at the manor, acquainting the Purebloods with some Muggle entertainment, with some help from Hermione's parents. Harry didn't know what to make of that since his in-laws had only just been informed of their union and he hadn't followed any protocol. Severus started roaring with laughter at that and Minerva shut him up with just a glare. Hermione told him not to worry, but to run if he saw her dad with a cricket bat. This didn't make Harry feel any better, but it did remind him of some other family.
"Umm… I don't know how to say this, but what do we do about Sirius and Remus?"
"OH, I completely forgot about them. Well, we could… I don't know. With Mr. Lovegood and Lady Regent Longbottom coming over, we can't exactly have Sirius there, unless he played the family dog."
"The mutt would deserve it."
"Uncle Sev, be nice. They mean a lot to me."
"Sorry, but what do you mean when you say family dog? I know that Sirius is innocent, you have proven to us that much, but why would you make him out to be a dog?"
"Umm…heh… he's an illegal animagus," Harry mumbled.
"HE'S WHAT?"
"Heh…well, how else would he have been able to spend time with Moony?"
"BUT STILL, HE COULD HAVE DIED… HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED…" McGonagall started to rant.
"What would you have done if one of your friends was in that situation? Moony was worried that none of them would like him after they discovered the truth of what he was. He was surprised when they became animagi just to be with him during the full moon."
"Well, I can see that… but still he should have informed- wait a minute- 'they became animagi'- it wasn't just Sirius?"
"No. My father and Peter Pettigrew became animagi as well."
"Well, I don't suppose I can do anything about it now, so I won't worry about it. Now, as far as dealing with Remus and Sirius, well, we could tell Xeno and Augusta the truth. After all, there should be no secrets between friends right?"
"Right," the others all agreed.
The group quickly discussed how they would broach the subject and decided that they would use a pensieve. After all, memories from fourteen year olds can't be forged, and even then there are tell-tale signs. They dispersed to finish up packing and then getting ready for the ball tonight.
"Harry, what are we going to do if the Weasleys make a scene?"
"We'll leave. Any excuse to go to the manor early is alright in my books. What time is it, Mione?"
"We have six hours until the Ball."
"What's say we go find Neville and Luna and enjoy some fun in the snow?"
"Great idea, love."
The Golden Couple left their quarters only to find Neville and Luna already waiting for them.
"Hello Harry and Hermione. You wanted to invite us to something?" Luna said in her normal mysterious tone.
"Uh, yeah, we wanted to see if you wanted to go have some fun in the snow before the Ball."
"Yeah!" both Neville and Luna agreed immediately.
The quartet then went out by the Black Lake and proceeded to just enjoy the snow.
That was until Harry decided to put some snow down the back of Hermione's robe.
"Ahh, Harry, that's c-cold. Now, of course, you realize this means war."
The quartet then got into a snowball fight that turned into a battle of epic proportions when the Weasley Twins decided to join in. In the end, it seemed like they had gotten the whole of Gryffindor house involved, with the exception of Ron and Ginny.
"Alright ladies, time to head in," Angelina Johnson said when there was about three hours left until the Ball.
"What? Why? There's still plenty of time before the Ball," Fred and George said in unison.
"You want us to look our best don't you?"
"Never mind, take as long as you need," the Twins said in unison again.
All of the girls, except Hermione and Luna rushed to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione and Luna were going to Harry and Hermione's quarters to get ready and then would head to Hermione's old dorm while their men got ready.
After about another hour and a half of playing in the snow, Neville and Harry went to his quarters to get ready. Harry showered first and then Neville They both got into their dress robes and were tying their bowties and double checking their corsages for the girls.
"Harry, do you think that Luna will be a good girlfriend?" Neville asked while Harry failed miserably at getting his hair to flatten down.
"Yeah, Neville. Luna will be great for you. She complements your shy awkwardness with her extreme curiosity. So, yeah, she'll be a good match."
"Thanks, Harry."
"Well, we have about a half hour before the Ball. Should we go get our ladies and head down?"
"Yeah."
The two then headed to the Common Room and didn't have long to wait until their dates came down. While Luna was a vision in her silver robes, Hermione looked like a goddess in her baby blue dress robe, which contrasted with Harry's black dress robe, with blue trim perfectly. Harry and Neville placed the corsages on their respective girls' wrists, while Hermione and Luna placed the boutonnières on their men. Then the quartet headed down to the Great Hall.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter," Professor McGonagall greeted them. "Such a lovely couple, now could you please join your fellow champions and I will tell you how tonight will go. Good. Now, the evening will start of with dinner, and then after that is over, then you all will go out and share in the first dance. Ok, the doors will open in ten minutes time."
She shuffled off to herd in any remaining people, so that the Ball could start on time and go without a hitch. While she did that, the champions were conversing amongst themselves.
"Harry," Cedric whispered.
"Yeah, Cedric?"
"Have you figured out the clue for the next task?"
"All I know is to open it underwater, but I'm afraid I haven't had a chance to do that."
"Why don't you use the Prefect Bathroom? You know where it is?"
Harry nodded in the affirmative.
"Good. Go in there and you'll be able to hear the clue. Password's pine fresh."
"I will and thanks Cedric."
McGonagall came back at this point and lined them up with Fleur in the lead with Roger Davies, followed by Viktor Krum with presumably one of his fan girls, after him was Cedric Diggory with Cho Chang, and lastly, was Harry and Hermione. The doors to the Great Hall opened rather slowly and then the champions walked into the hall.
Harry was enjoying himself. He was on the arm of the most beautiful girl, to him at least, in Hogwarts, who just happened to be his wife. He now had a loving family that cared and wanted him. Yeah, to Harry Potter, life couldn't get any better. Well, except for the jealous looks he was getting on his way to the Champions' Table. He saw Ron and Ginny, who he guessed had made her brother invite her. He saw Malfoy on the arm of Pug-faced Pansy Parkinson, shadowed by this two lackeys. Right before he got to the Champions' Table, he saw his uncle and great-grandmother give him looks filled with pride.
"Harry, I wish to apologize about the little boy comment I said on Halloween," Fleur said as they sat down to order their food.
"Think nothing of it, Fleur, I don't make a point to hold grudges. Except against the one who killed my parents."
"You-Know-Who?"
"Fleur, fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," Hermione interjected.
"Your girlfriend?"
"No, my wife," Harry said in an exasperatingly teasing tone.
"Yes, I'm his wife, and if he wants me to be nice tonight, then he will keep his teasing down."
"Whatever, you don't scare me, witch!"
"Oh, and I was trying so hard."
"What do you want to eat love?"
"Hmm… how about a club sandwich? It's less work for the houselves yet it's also tasty."
"Very well, dear."
They ordered their food and enjoyed talking to the rest of the champions, well, all except for Krum who kept glaring at Harry every time he talked to Hermione. Now, it was the time that Harry dreaded. Dancing in front of the school.
"Harry, you can do this. I have faith in you."
"I know, love. As long as I have you with me, I feel like I can do anything."
"Then, let's dance."
They began to dance to the waltz that was playing and Hermione thought that the dance lessons really paid off. The first couple to join in the dancing was Severus and Minerva, since he considered it courteous. Next, it was Neville and Luna, who seemed to float on the air partially. Finally, the song ended and the Weird Sisters struck up a more lively tune, and Hermione pushed Harry towards Minerva, who blushed when Harry bowed low before her. Severus left to go on his turn checking the grounds for any rule-breaking.
Hermione danced with Neville and Luna sat down. Then when that song was over, Harry danced with Luna and Neville danced with Minerva leaving Hermione to sit down by herself.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here brother mine?"
"It would seem sister, dear, we have a Mudblood who has been a lot of trouble."
"What should we do with her?"
"Well, I know what I'm going to take from her."
"Don't even think about it, you two," said Fred coming up behind them and going in front of Hermione.
"Yeah, unless you want us to pull some pranks on you," said George coming to stand next to Fred.
"You are traitors. We don't have anything, while Potter has everything."
"You think I have everything, Ron? Then tell me, where are my parents? Hmm?" Harry stated as he came up to stand between the Twins.
"Your parents were nothing, lay-about losers. They are probably grateful they are dead. Just so they don't have to mess with you anymore."
"Hermione, would you go find Severus and Minerva, while I go find Neville and Luna?"
"Sure, what should I tell them?"
"Tell them, we are leaving now for the Manor. Fred, George it's been wonderful to see you and I do hope you will try to come over to the Manor sometime on the holiday. Maybe for New Years and meet a couple of marauders just like you?"
"Sure, Harry. Just name the time and give us a means for getting there and we will be. See you later," said Fred.
"Yeah, oh and don't worry about these two, we'll keep our eye on them," replied his Twin.
"Thanks guys, see you soon."
Harry went off to look for Neville and Luna and it didn't take long. Both were dancing together again and so he went over.
"Hey, you two, ready to go?"
"Sure," they both replied in unison making Harry think of the Twins he just left.
"Come on."
They headed off and met up with the other three outside the Great Hall.
"Ready to go?" Severus asked.
"Ready and willing, Uncle Sev," Harry replied.
"You know I don't like being called, Sev, Potter."
"Yeah, well, I have to do it to annoy you."
"Why?"
"Well, it is my destiny!"
"Oh, Harry, bad Star Wars pun," Hermione interjected.
"I couldn't say 'I am your father!', now could I?"
"Ugh. Boys."
The group all laughed at Hermione's last comment and then proceeded to Minerva's classroom where they grabbed their cloaks, trunks, and animals and then headed out towards the edge of the wards. Severus created a portkey again and they all arrived at Potter Manor where Mr. Lovegood and Lady Regent Longbottom were waiting, having been brought by Dobby and Winky. The group told them all about the Ball and they had pictures taken of them for the family album. Then, they all broke up to get out of their clothes and go to bed for celebrating their Christmas tomorrow.
Harry and Hermione arrived in the master bedroom and quickly dressed down for bed.
As they snuggled under the covers, Hermione asked, "Harry, what do you think Ron would have done tonight if the Twins hadn't shown up when they did?"
"Most likely, he would have tried to r-r-rape you so that I couldn't take your innocence from you. Of course, I don't think he would have gotten that far."
"Why not?"
"Well, for one, I think that you would have screamed as you were being taken out of the hall, or that someone would have seen you. Two, I think that you would have kicked him where the sun don't shine. Third, Ginny would have been no problem, since you know more hexes and curses than her."
"Thanks, Harry."
"And if all that failed, then I would have gotten to you before he was able to do anything and I would have killed him."
"Really?"
"Without a doubt. Never doubt that I love you and I will always come for you. I would die for you, Hermione."
"Harry," Hermione said starting to cry.
"Hush, now, let's get some rest," Harry said as he kissed her passionately on the lips.
"I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Hermione."
With that, the both of them fell asleep in each other's arms, not caring that a dark force was rising.
(A/N Hey, sorry about getting this out late. If you are wondering about the reason, then check it out in Ch. 8 of Independent Destiny. Also, in your reviews, I want you to try and guess what dark force is rising. The first to get it right, will get to make some suggestion for the story and I will put it in the next chapter- Celebrating a Christmas Late. Title is a work in progress. Thanks and good night.)
Riddle Potter 23