A few days later the heads of houses called a meeting with their students. Initially people were thinking it was something to do with the tournament and they were right but there were not expecting what they heard.
At 11:00 on Wednesday morning Mc Gonagall addressed her Gryffindors in the great hall. They were all waiting with great anticipation for her announcement when she suddenly strolled in and all the whispering ceased immediately.
"Attention please everyone. The time has come where you are to be made aware of a particular event within the tri-wizard tournament. The event which I am referring to is the Yule Ball. On Christmas Eve night we as the host school for this year's tournament shall gather here in the great hall with our guests for an evening of what I hope will be one of enjoyment for everyone. As many of you I am sure are not aware judging by the blank expressions I am receiving from you…. The Yule Ball is first and foremost a dance. So as Gryffindors I expect all my students to be on their best behaviour. Any misbehaviour from anyone…." She glared at Fred and George in particular who smirked and waved up at her…." And I will make sure you suffer the consequences.
So gentlemen be prepared to dance with the girl you choose to be with and girls….be prepared for some left footed boys." Mc Gonagall smirked and all the girls laughed whilst the boys grimaced.
When the meeting was over the great hall was set up for lunch for the rest of the school. Harry was sitting with Hermione and the rest of his group of friends when he felt someone slap him across his head, when he turned around he saw Sirius sitting at the edge of the bench beside him.
"Hey Sirius!" Arielle shouted across the table. Sirius winked at her as he shouted back….
"You all right Arielle love?"
"Yep. How are you Sirius?" She asked jovially.
Sirius stood up, stretched his arms out length ways as he replied….
"I am terrific angel. Harry come with me for a minute will ya? Hermione I will have him back to you in one piece I promise love."
Harry eyed him curiously. Sirius who held the daily prophet in his hand tapped him on the shoulder and nudged his head towards the door. Harry nodded and got up following Sirius out of the great hall.
"Sirius…..what the hell is going on? Regulus? What are you doing here?"
"Harry you and I need to see Dumbledore."
"Why Regulus?" Harry asked anxiously.
"When I was cleaning out Grimauld Place I happened across something that I thought I had lost years ago."
"What has this got to do with me though?" Harry asked looking between Sirius and Regulus.
Sirius walked over beside him and whispered….
"That is what we will be discussing with Dumbledore. There are too many ears down here."
Harry quirked an eyebrow but agreed nonetheless to go with them.
"I got permission from Remus for you to be late for your next class."
"Is it going to take that long Sirius?" Harry asked incredulously.
Sirius shifted his head from side to side.
"I don't know Harry but just in case. Are you afraid Hermione might go off with Krum or something?" Sirius asked humorously winking at his godson. Harry smiled cynically at his godfather who slapped him lightly on the arm with the paper.
"That is real funny Padfoot…."
"Oh look here is your father. We can head up now."
Harry still not fully understanding what was going on found himself heading into Dumbledore's office ahead of Regulus and Sirius and James behind him. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk with Snape, Moody and Mc Gonagall around him. The four of them took a seat in front of Dumbledore. Harry looked around at them all hoping for some sort of clue as to what this meeting was about and why he had to attend when he would much rather be downstairs having lunch with Hermione and his friends and preparing for Remusclass.
"I expect that you are wondering what the meaning of all this is Harry." Dumbledore said to him with a small smile playing on his lips.
"Well yes Sir I was. When Sirius called me out I thought he wanted to talk to me himself and then I saw Regulus so….I was more confused than ever then."
Dumbledore smirked and then he addressed Regulus.
"Regulus could you please hand me what is in your pocket?"
Regulus reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out what looked like a necklace. Dumbledore looked at it carefully in his hand and then turned to Harry.
"Do you know what this is Harry?"
"It looks like a necklace Sir."
"It is Harry but it is so much more than a simple necklace. This is called a horcrux. There are five other horcruxes somewhere which we must find."
"Why Sir?"
"In each Horcrux there is a little piece of Voldemort. Each time we destroy one Harry, we weaken him. I want to destroy him before he destroys us."
"Where do I fit into all this then?"
"I want you and me to find the remaining five horcruxes Harry. The diary that you destroyed two years ago was the first one and now this is the second one."
"Ok Sir. Ill do whatever it takes but this means that you must think he is going to return soon."
"I am not certain when Harry but yes I do believe he will come back sooner than we think which is why I want us all to be ready."
"Constant vigilance is the key Potter. Strike the enemy before he strikes you!" Moody said defiantly.
"Is there anymore word within the ministry James?"
"No nothing Sir. We are still trying our best to salvage some answers but we are coming up empty so far. We will keep trying however. Kingsley and Arthur are persistent to solve it soon."
"That's good. Regulus….how is Grimauld Place coming along?"
"Not too bad Albus. Rob and Dieter are a great help. Molly and Lily are of course too and so is Shari when she can come by but the three women have to alternate with the kids as you can understand."
"Yes of course…"
"Well I will certainly lend a hand after tomorrow when I'm finished up here for a couple weeks." Sirius said.
"Are you finishing on duty here today Sirius?" Harry asked.
"I am for a couple weeks just so Reg and I can get the house in order for the re-establishment for the Order of the Phoenix. Is something wrong?"
"No. Sir may I go back to class now?"
"Yes Harry of course. Thank for joining us."
"No problem sir." Harry replied as he smiled and stood up.
"See ye later." He headed for the door and left.
Harry reached the foot of the stairs and was heading towards Remusclassroom when he heard Sirius running after him and calling out to him. Harry stopped and turned around.
"Are you sure you are ok Harry?"
"Yes, why Sirius?"
"Well….after all that stuff with the horcruxes….."
"Why wasn't I told about it sooner?"
"Come with me…"
"No Sirius I have to get to class."
"Remus will understand now come on Prongslet."
Harry sighed but followed Sirius outside to the courtyard.
"So….what is it then Sirius?"
"Are you angry with me?" Sirius asked anxiously.
"I just wish someone told me that there was a way to defeat Voldemort before now."
"Harry try and see this from our perspective. We have a duty to protect you as your guardians, as your family. We couldn't tell you everything at once because you were too young to understand and we didn't want you to have an abnormal life."
"Well I still have one of those don't I Sirius?"
"I thought that you would be pleased about finding old Voldies weak spots but instead you are annoyed that we didn't tell you before now? Harry….mate this is just not you."
Harry sat down on the bench and lowered his head. Sirius eyed him perplexed.
"I'm sorry Sirius. I'm just not having a very good day today."
"What is wrong?"
"Snape and Mc Gonagall gave us double the amount of homework we usually get because the exams are coming up soon, Malfoy is being himself as usual and Hermione is doing my head in."
"All things aren't rosy in paradise then?" Sirius asked with a smirk.
"No were ok Sirius but she just keeps banging on at me about solving that bloody egg and I have tried everything I can think of."
"Well have you asked Remus or maybe even Moody for suggestions?"
"No….and now apparently the Yule Ball is coming up so we as the champions will be expected to kick start the celebrations by leading the first dance. Hermione is excited about it but I know I'm going to make a fool of myself."
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't know how to dance Padfoot."
"You are the son of James Potter so yes Harry you do know how to dance."
Harry stared at him quizzically.
"Meet us in Remusclassroom at 6:00 this evening." Sirius said as he winked at Harry before he stood up and headed back to Dumbledore.
At 6:00 Harry went down to Remusclassroom where he found the marauders waiting for him. He looked at them perplexed as he closed the door. Remus pointed his wand at it and locked it.
"Now what is all this I hear about my son claiming he can't dance?" James asked feigning surprise.
"Well I can't dad…."
"Yes Harry you can. My father could, I can and so can you. Now come over here."
"Why?" Harry asked curiously.
"I will show you how it's done but not if you stand over there."
Harry shrugged and sauntered over to his father who was standing near the top of the room with Remus and Sirius.
"Right now watch and learn from the master. Sirius are you ready?"
Harry looked at Remus quizzically. Remus smirked as he walked over to him and said….
"You will love this Harry. When we were in school James and Sirius would demonstrate how to dance with a girl the proper way. It made good entertainment." Remus concluded as he rested against one of the desks with his arms folded.
"Yeah I'll bet." Harry said uncertainly before taking a seat on the desk next to Remus.
James stood with one arm on Siriuswaist and his hard loosely clutching his friends. Harry then couldn't help snigger at the spectacle before them.
"Okay Harry are you ready?"
"Yeah sure dad. I must say you two make a lovely couple." He winked at his father who smiled cynically at him.
"Okay when you and Hermione are at the ball, this is the position you take before you dance with her, one hand on her waist and the other hand loosely in hers. You with me?"
"Yes."
"Okay. When the music starts then it will be a slow dance at first so you always start with your left foot so….." James put his left foot forward and Sirius put his left foot back. "Then you alternate each time you move across the floor. I promise it will come natural kid. Then if you really want to impress her and the rest of school….catch her waist with both of your hands, lift her up and twirl around and slowly place her back down on the ground again. So….you want to give it a try?"
"Yeah come on Prongslet. I don't mind letting you borrow my date. I trust him 100." Sirius said as he smirked at Harry and winked at James who pushed him playfully. Remus smirked at both his friends as Harry hopped off the desk and took Siriusplace with his dad. They practiced for the best part of two hours before Harry headed back to the common room.
Back in the common room Harry found Ron with Dean and Neville over in the corner by the fire chatting.
"Alright fellas?"
"Hey Harry." They chimed together.
"Where were you for the past couple of hours?"
"I was down with the marauders. Dad showed me how to dance for the Yule Ball."
"Oh so Hermione will be well chuffed with ya mate." Dean said winking at him. Harry smirked.
"Where is she anyway?" Harry asked looking around the room.
"She is at the library with Ginny and Arielle. They both needed some help with their potions so she offered." Neville explained simply.
"Oh right. I should have guessed." They laughed a little.
"We were just discussing who we were taking to the Yule Ball before you arrived. You want to know?" Ron asked smirking.
"Yeah!" Harry exclaimed chirpily as he sat down on the couch next to Neville.
"Well Neville is going with Ginny…."
"I asked Ron first and he said he didn't mind."
"She could do a lot worse than you mate."
Neville smiled abashed as he muttered "thanks"
"Dean is going with Arielle…."
"You don't mind do you Harry?" Dean asked anxiously.
"No of course not kid. You will treat her right and that's all that matters."
They both smiled at one another.
"And I am going with Luna." Ron exclaimed smiling as Harry laughed.
"You what? I thought you thought she was bonkers!"
"Well she is…."
"But she is the only one who would have him." Dean said making them all laugh. Ron smirked at him cynically.
"No…she is dead on though. We could have fun."
"Well that's great mate. Anyway I better make a start on that homework so if Hermione comes in and Im still awake will you give me a shout?"
"Yes….of course….sure…."
"Thanks guys." Harry said smiling before heading up to his dormitory.
Well…what did we think? I hope you liked it. The Yule Ball is next so hopefully you will enjoy that even more! Later :)