The Yule Ball

Even though there was a heavy load of homework given to the fourth years for the holidays, Arthur felt like the only one to continue the work when term ended.

He was able to finish it all within a couple of days with very few breaks and this would allow him to not only enjoy the week leading up to Christmas, but it allowed him to have time to learn how to dance with Mike.

During these dance lessons, which would be in the dormitory while everyone else hung one in the common room, Mike would lead Arthur and show what to do move by move, meaning they'd have to physically hold one another.

For Arthur to hold Mike, and Mike to hold him, it made his body feel goosebumps, especially considering his recent self revelation that he's gay and has a crush on Mike.

He was concerned about a whole myriad of things.

For one, he was concerned about how his friends and the Dentleys would react if they learned he was gay. He didn't know how his relatives felt about people who are gay or attracted to both genders.

And second, he didn't know how the wizarding world compared to the Muggle world in terms of acceptance of sexualities. Because in the Muggle world, while there are those that are accepting, there are those that are very much against it. How did the wizarding world compare?

And third, there's the issue of Mike's mother, who is Arthur's Head of house. How would she feel if her son was in a relationship with Arthur Pendergast of all people? Arthur just didn't want to face her wrath if she didn't approve of them being together.

But aside from the dance training and the internal struggle Arthur felt, Gryffindor Tower was roughly just as crowded as it was during term, if not more so, feeling like it shrunk slightly with the inhabitants becoming rowdier than normal.

Both Jack and Kevin were a great success with their Canary Creams, resulting in people bursting into deaths all over the place for the first couple of days during the holidays. It made Arthur remind himself to be careful if they ever offer him anything.

Snow started falling thickly upon the castle and on the grounds. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage now looked like a large chilly, frosted pumpkin next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, meanwhile the Durmstrang ship's portholes were glazed with ice, the rigging white with frost.

The house elves in the kitchens were outdoing themselves with rich, warming stews and savoury puddings, yet it seemed that only Fleur had things to complain about.

"It is too 'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food." She was heard saying grumpily as the trio left the Great Hall behind her one evening (a still depressed David hiding behind Arthur to avoid being seen by Fleur). "I will not fit into my dress robes!"

"What a tragedy." Chrys snapped grumpily as Fleur entered the Entrance Hall. "Talk about being selfish."

"Why did you say yes to him?" David questioned, still depressed and now resentful over the fact that Chrys is going to the Yule Ball with Krum.

"Well… I couldn't really turn him down, could I?" Chrys replied, still feeling bad for making David be like this.

"You're joking, Merlon?" Draco said behind them. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long molared Mudblood?"

Both Arthur and David spun around to punch Draco but Chrys turned and grinned behind Draco "Hello, Moody!"

This made Draco go pale and jump backwards, looking around wildly for Moody, but he was still up at the staff table, eating his stew.

"Still the twitchy and cowardly ferret, I see." Chrys said scathingly as she, Arthur and David went up the marble staircase amused.

But then they noticed that Goliath was twittering on the top of the icicle laden bannisters with a scroll of parchment tied to his leg. People were passing him and pointed and laughed.

"Come on, Goliath, no need to show off." David said, grabbing Goliath and handing the parchment to Arthur.

Upon arriving back at Gryffindor Tower, everyone in the common room was too busy letting off some holiday steam to observe everything else so the trio all sat away from everyone else by the dark window which gradually filled up with snow.

Arthur then read out:

Dear Arthur,

Congratulations on getting past the Horntail, whoever put your name in that Goblet should be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitis Curse, as a dragon's eye are its weakest point -

"That is exactly what Krum did!" Chrys whispered.

- but your way was better, I'm impressed.

Don't get complacent, though, Arthur. You've only done one task; whoever put you in for the Tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open - particularly when the person we discussed is around - and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble.

Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual.

Sirius

"Wow, he actually thought I'd be complacent. He clearly doesn't know me that well." Arthur said resentfully.

"But he is right in that you have two more tasks to do and you still have that egg to go over." Chrys said.

"He said he'll go over it in January, Ranger, so just leave him alone!" David snapped at her, shocking both Arthur and Chrys, the latter looking hurt.

Arthur woke up very suddenly on Christmas Day. He tried figuring out what made him abruptly return to consciousness as he opened his eyes, seeing very large, round green eyes staring back at him in the darkness, very much nose to nose.

"Dobby!" He yelled, shooting up on his bed, making the house elf jump back. "Don't do that!"

"Dobby is sorry, sir!" Dobby squeaked anxiously, his long fingers over his mouth. "Dobby is only wanting to wish Arthur Pendergast 'Merry Christmas' and bring him a present sir! Arthur Pendergast did say Dobby could come and see him sometimes, sir!"

"It's fine." Arthur said, calming his breathing rate down. "Just next time, nudge my shoulder gently next time."

Arthur then pulled back the hangings around his four poster bed seeing that his yell woke up David, Mike, Seamus, Dean and Neville. They all peered through the gaps of their own hangings, heavy eyed and tousle haired.

"Someone attacking you, Arthur?" Seamus asked sleepily.

"Nah, it's just Dobby." Arthur shrugged, making Mike wide eyed as he finally saw the house elf for the first time.

All the others spotted their various piles of presents at the foot of their beds, making them more awake and started opening their presents.

Arthur looked back at Dobby, who stood nervously next to Arthur's bed, as though he was worried he still upset Arthur. On top of his tea cosy was a Christmas bauble.

"Can Dobby give Arthur Pendergast his present?" He squeaked tentatively.

"Sure. I'll give yours as well." Arthur replied, grabbing the present the Dentleys gave him.

He unwrapped it to reveal his sweater first, which was white with a black dragon on the front, representing the Horntail, and the back had a broomstick on it, representing the Firebolt.

He saw it was with a much smaller sweater that was Dobby's size and it was scarlet with a lightning bolt pattern on it.

"Here you go." He handed it to Dobby, who looked at it as though it were a treasured piece.

"Thank you so much, sir!" He said, eyes brimming with tears. He then handed Arthur a small package, which turned out to be socks of all things.

"Dobby is making them himself, sir!" Dobby said happily. "He is buying the wool out of his wages, sir!"

The left sock was bright red with a pattern of broomsticks and the right was green with a pattern of Snitches.

"Thanks…." Arthur said, realling liking the socks, realising that Dobby thought mismatched socks was the norm. He then pulled them on, making Dobby's eyes leak with happiness again.

"Dobby must go now, sir, we is already making Christmas dinner in the kitchens!" Dobby said, hurrying out of the dormitory, waving goodbye to David and the others as he passed.

Arthur's other presents were as satisfactory as Dobby's socks.

From Chrys, a Gryffindor ring and dragons pins for both a tie and lapel, clearly for the Yule Ball.

Mike, a different candle with white and purple instead of scarlet and yellow.

David, a pile of Dungbombs.

Sirius, a handy pen knife with attachments to unlock any lock and undo any knot.

Martha, some slices of treacle tart and a whole book on dragons from around the world, probably thanks to Kenny.

And Hagrid, a whole box full of his favourite sweets.

Arthur, David and Mike all met up with Chrys in the common room and all four went down to breakfast together. They'd spend most of the morning in Gryffindor Tower, where everyone else enjoyed their presents.

They then went to the Great Hall for a brilliant lunch, which included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, along with large piles of Cribbages Wizarding Crackers.

Then they went out onto the school grounds in the afternoon, where the snow was untouched except for the deep channels that were made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way up to the castle.

Chrys decided to watch the three boys all snowball fighting instead of joining in. By five o'clock, she said that she was going back up to the castle to get ready for the ball.

"Why would she need three hours to get ready?" David asked bitterly.

There would be no Christmas tea today as the ball included a feast, so come seven o'clock, the others stopped throwing snowballs and went back up to the common room. They saw the Fat lady sitting in her frame with Violet from downstairs, both being pretty tipsy with empty boxes of chocolate liqueurs littering the bottom of her picture.

"Lairy fights, that's the one!" She giggled when they gave the password and she swung forwards to let them inside.

Arthur, David, Mike, Seams, Dean and Neville all changed into what they would wear in their dormitory. The latter three felt the most self conscious, as they wore dress robes, whereas the former three all had tuxedos.

It was clear that Arthur looked the best out of everyone with his all red tux and gold tie, with the dragon lapel and tie pins and his Gryffindor ring adding an extra appeal.

But Arthur felt Mike looked the most handsome with his purple tux that really brought out his purple eyes.

David looked good, despite still being bitter and depressed.

"I still can't work out how you two got the best looking girls in the year." Dean muttered.

"I just asked." Arthur shrugged. He decided that he should at least have some fun at the ball.

"Who are you going with, Mike?" Seamus asked.

"I'm just going stag. There wasn't anyone that I wanted to go with." He said, looking a bit down.

The common room looked strange, being full of people who wore different colours instead of the normal mass of black.

Arthur found Parvati waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. He had to admit that, despite being gay, she was very pretty. She wore shockingly pink robes with her long dark plait braided with gold and had gold bracelets glimmering at her wrists.

She looked at Arthur, very much with interest.

"You look nice." Arthur noted.

"Thanks." She replied. "Padma's going to meet you in the Entrance Hall." She then said to David.

"Got it." David said, still depressed but looked like he wanted to try and have fun.

"Let's go down." Arthur said as Jack winked at him when passing him on the way out of the portrait hole.

The Entrance Hall was packed with students, all milling around until eight o'clock came around, when the doors to the Great Hall would open up.

Those that would meet their partners from different houses edged through the crowd, trying to find each other.

Parvati was able to find her sister Padma, leading her over to Arthur and David.

"Hi." She said, looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise. She looked very enthusiastic of having David as a partner, being a descendant of Merlin helped. But she also looked caring, like she wanted to try and cheer him up.

"Hi." David greeted her before staring around at the crowd. "Oh, boy…."

He bent on his knees to hide behind Arthur and Mike as Fleur passed by, wearing stunning robes of silver grey satin and was accompanied by the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies.

Once they disappeared, David stood straight again.

"Where's Chrys?" He then asked.

A group of Slytherins all came up from their dungeon common room. Draco was in front, wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which made him look like a vicar in Arthur's opinion.

Pansy Parkinson clutched Draco's arm, wearing very frilly robes of pale pink. Both Crabbe and Goyle wore green, resembling moss coloured boulders, and neither found a partner, which delighted Arthur, David and Mike.

The oak front doors opened up and everyone saw the Durmstrang students enter with Karkaroff.

Krum was at the front of the party, accompanied by Chrys, who left the three boys in shock because she wore blue robes and her hair was sleek and shiny, twisting into an elegant knot at the back of her head.

Over their heads, Arthur saw that the area of lawn right in front of the castle was turned into a grotto full of fairy lights, meaning living fairies were sitting in the rose bushes that were conjured there, and fluttering over the statues of who had to be Santa Claus and his reindeer.

McGonagall's voice then called out "Champions over here, please!"

Parvati readjusted her bangles, beaming.

Both she and Arthur said to the others "See you in a minute" and walked through the chattering crowd that parted to let them through, everyone, looking very impressed with Arthur's get up.

McGonagall, who wore dress robes of red tartan, had arranged an 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 all sat down.

Both Fleur and Davies stationed themselves nearest to the doors; Davies looked so stunned by his good fortune in having Fleur be his partner that he could hardly take his eyes off her.

Cedric was close to Arthur and he turned out to be with Cho Chang.

Arthur looked over to Krum and Chrys, still thinking that the pairing was just too wrong because of their ages.

"Hi, Arthur! Hi, Parvati!" Chrys said upon seeing them.

Parvati gazed at Chrys, very much in disbelief. And she wasn't the only one.

When the doors to the Great Hall opened finally, Krum's little fan club from the library walked past, throwing Chrys with looks of the deepest loathing. Pansy gaped at her as she walked by with Daco, who didn't even fire anything at her.

David walked by, not even looking at her, though Arthur glimpsed that devastated look he had when he first heard she was going with Krum.

Once everyone settled in the Hall, McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs before they followed her.

Everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they all entered and walked up towards a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges all sat.

The walls of the Hall were all covered in sparkling silver frost with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling, All the house tables have vanished and instead were a hundred smaller, lantern lit ones that each seated a dozen people.

Arthur was glad that he didn't trip on his feet as Parvati was definitely enjoying himself, beaming around at everyone. Arthur was able to catch sight of David, who seemed to be doing better as he sat with Padma, who looked happy.

Dumbledore smiled happily as the four champions approached the top table, yet Karkaroff looked very cross as he watched Krum and Chrys draw nearer, very much in disapproval.

Ludo Bagman, who now wore robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Maxime, who changed into a flowing gown of lavender silk, applauded them politely.

But it seemed that Crouch wasn't among them. Instead, the fifth seat was occupied by Sam Merlon.

When all the champions and their partners reached the table, Sam drew out the empty chair beside him, greeting Arthur with a grin. Arthur then sat down next to him, who was wearing a grey tux like his brothers.

"I've just got promoted, oddly." He said to Arthur. "I've just become Mr Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."

"Why didn't he come?" Arthur asked with some curiosity, remembering how he didn't look well previously.

"He isn't feeling well, hasn't been since the World Cup. I'm thinking there's more to it than being overworked. I may have to talk to someone if they can figure it all out soon."

There wasn't any food yet on the glittering golden plates, though there were some small menus lying in front of each of them. Arthur picked his up, wondering how it would work since there weren't any waiters.

Dumbledore looked carefully down his own menu and said very clearly to his plate "Pork chops!"

Pork chops then appeared.

With that, everyone else at the table all placed their orders with their plates.

Arthur looked over at Chrys, who was deep in talk with Krum, hardly noticing what she was eating.

It also struck Arthur that he had never heard Krum talk before now, and he was very enthusiastic.

"Vell, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, nor as comfortable, I am thinking." He said to Chrys with a thick Bulgarian accent. "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 the summer, ve are flying every day, over the lakes and mountains -"

"Now, now, Viktor!" Karkaroff said 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 with twinkling eyes.

"Igor, all this secrecy… one would almost think you didn't want visitors."

"Well, Dumbledore…" Karkaroff said, displaying his yellow teeth to their fullest. "...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 of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor." Dumbledore said amicably. "Only this morning for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon, or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."

Arthur snorted into his plate of goulash, along with Sam. And Dumbledore gave them a very small wink.

Fleur, meanwhile, was criticising the Hogwarts decorations to Davies.

"Zis is nothing." She said dismissively, looking around. "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 'ave choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armour in ze 'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be expelled like zat." She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.

Davies watched her talk with a dazed look on his face, missing his mouth with his fork, making Arthur laugh as he did think he was too pompous for his own good.

"Absolutely right." He said quickly, slapping his own hand down on the table. "Like that. Yeah."

Arthur then looked around the Hall. He saw Hagrid sitting at one of the other staff tables, wearing that horrible hairy brown suit, and gazed up at the top table. Arthur saw him wave over at Maxime, who waved back, her opals glittering in the candlelight.

Arthur was talking with Parvati as Chrys was teaching Krum to say her name properly.

Once all the food was consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked everyone to do the same. And then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls, leaving the floor clear. He then conjured a raised platform into existence along the right hand wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello and some bagpipes were then set upon it.

The Weird Sisters then trooped up onto the stage to a wildly enthusiastic applause. They looked extremely hairy and were dressed in black robes that were artfully ripped and torn.

They all picked up their instruments and the lanterns on all the other tables had gone out. All the champions and their partners stood.

Arthur prepared himself for the fact that he had to dance as the Weird Sisters started a slow, mournful tune.

Arthur walked with Parvati onto the brightly lit dance floor and made sure to avoid looking at everyone as he and Parvati got into position.

Arthur ended up leading the charge as they danced, once in a while looking at all the other people who joined in on the dance floor.

Both Neville and Mary danced nearby, though Neville kept trodding on Mary's feet. Dumbledore was waltzing with Maxime, being so dwarfed by her that the top of his pointed hat barely tickled her chin, yet she moved very gracefully for someone as large as her.

Moody was doing a very ungainly two step with Sinestra, who avoided his metallic leg.

"Nice socks, Pendergast." Moody growled as he passed, his magical eye staring through his red trousers.

"Thanks. Dobby the house elf knitted them for me." Arthur replied with a grin.

"He is so creepy!" Parvati whispered as Moody clunked away. "I don't think that eye should be allowed!"

Arthur then heard the final note from the bagpipe with some relief. The Weird Sisters stopped playing, applause filling the Hall again.

"Look, if you want to hang out with your friends, go ahead, I need to go and check up on David." He told Parvati.

"Okay." She said as the next song started playing, one that was much faster.

Arthur walked past Jack and Angelina, who danced so wildly that he had to walk around them.

He then reached the table where David sat with Padma, along with Mike.

"How's your night been?" He asked as he opened a bottle of Butterbeer, along with loosening his tie and buttoning a few buttons, including his sleeve collars.

"I tried but I just can't seem to have any fun." David said as he looked on with a glare at Krum and Chrys, who danced nearby. Padma patted his arm, feeling sorry for him.

"I don't mind not dancing. It's not exactly my thing, especially because I don't like the Weird Sisters." Mike said as he drank some Butterbeer.

When the song ended, Chrys sat down and looked a bit pink in the face from dancing.

"Hi." Arthur and Mike greeted her, though David didn't say a thing.

"A bit hot." Chrys said, fanning her face with her hand. "Viktor's gone to get some drinks."

This made David give her a withering look.

"So you're calling him Viktor now, huh? Gonna call him Vicky soon?"

Chrys looked very taken aback.

"What's wrong with you?"

"He's from Durmstrang, so he's clearly among the lot who like the Dark Arts." David said scathingly. "Not to mention he's an adult and you're underage. He's too old for you."

"Wha - But - what has gotten into you?" She questioned, now looking mad.

"If you don't know, I'm not bothering to tell you. Now go away and be with Vicky!" David spat at her.

She was left speechless, whereas Arthur and Mike sat there, knowing full well to not get involved.

Chrys then stood and stormed off, disappearing into the crowd.

"I'm gonna go and find my sister. You two take care of him?" Padma said to Arthur and Mike helplessly, who both nodded, watching her head into the crowd.

"Vare is Chrys?" A voice said. It was Krum, who had just arrived at their table with two Butterbeers.

"She stormed off somewhere, don't know where she is." Mike said before David could say a word.

Krum nodded and slouched off.

Sam then joined the three and they watched, seeing that the top table was empty.

Dumbledore now danced with Sprout, Bagman with McGonagall and Maxime with Hagrid, the two cutting a path around the dance floor as they waltzed through the students.

Karkaroff was nowhere to be seen, which made Arthur wonder where he went.

By the time the song ended, everyone applauded again and Arthur saw Bagman kiss McGonagall's hand before making his way through the crowd and getting accosted by Jack and Kevin.

Arthur frowned as he remembered what they said that one time in the common room, now thinking that they were talking about Bagman. He must've done something bad to them if they're trying to get his attention this much.

Bagman, though, was able to shake the twins off quickly and spotted Arthur, waving and coming over to their table.

Arthur looked over at Sam with a look telling him to keep him busy and he winked, getting up and instantly talked business with Bagman.

"Let's go for a walk." Arthur muttered as he took his tie off, putting it in an inside pocket in his blazer, to David and Mike, who nodded.

They pretended that they wanted more drinks and left the table, edging around the dance floor and slipped out into the Entrance Hall.

The front doors were still open and the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as the three went down the front steps, where they were now surrounded by bushes, winding ornamental paths and large stone statues.

Arthur heard some splashing water, most likely from a fountain. Here and there would be people sitting on carved benches.

The three boys all set off along one of the winding paths through the rose bushes, but they went a short way when an unpleasantly familiar voice spoke.

"...don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor."

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff's voice replied, sounding anxious and hushed, like he didn't want to be heard. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months, I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it -"

"Then flee." Snape replied curtly. "Flee, I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."

The two then came around the corner and Snape had his wand out, blasting rose bushes apart, his expression very ill natured. Squeals then came from many of the bushes and dark shapes emerged.

"Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett!" Snape snarled as a girl ran past him. "And ten points from Ravenclaw, too, Stebbins!" A boy rushed after her. "And what are you three doing?" He added when he caught sight of Arthur, David and Mike on the path ahead.

Karkaroff looked slightly discomposed as he saw them. His hand nervously went to his goatee, winding it around his finger.

"We're just walking, what's wrong with that?" David replied.

"Keep walking, then!" Snape snarled, brushing past them with his long black cloak billowing out behind him. Karkaroff hurried after him.

"What's gotten Karkaroff so worried?" David muttered.

"And when did he and Snape get on first name terms?" Mike added.

Arthur frowned in thought about this, thinking that maybe they have a past together. But why would a former Death Eater have a past with Snape in this way?

The three reached a large stone reindeer, and past it was a tall fountain.

They then spotted shadowy outlines of two large people on a stone bench, watching the water in the moonlight.

"Momen' I saw yeh, I knew." Hagrid said in an oddly husky voice.

The three froze, not wanting to walk in on such a scene.

Arthur looked and saw Fleur and Davies standing partly concealed in a nearby rose bush, making out non stop. They couldn't go that way since David would freak out, so they just got deeper into the shadows behind the reindeer.

"What did you know, 'Agrid?" Maxime asked with a distant purr in her low voice.

Arthur visibly cringed, not really wanting to hear this but he had no choice. All that distracted him for a moment was that a beetle crawled along the stone reindeer's back, but even that didn't block out what Hagrid said next.

"I jus' knew… knew you were like me… was it yer mother or yer father?"

"I - I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid…."

"It was my mother." Hagrid said quietly. "She was one o' the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too well… she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort. Well…it's not in their natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her… might be dead fer all I know…."

Maxime didn't say anything. And Arthur, who just noticed that the beetle had a pattern around the eyes, which looked very familiar, listened closely, as he had never heard Hagrid talk about his childhood before.

"Me dad was broken hearted when she wen'. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an' put him on top o' the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh…." Hagrid's voice then broke. Maxime listened, motionless and staring at the silvery fountain. "Dad raised me… but he died, o' course, jus' after I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was…."

Hagrid then pulled out a large spotted silk handkerchief and blew his nose heavily.

"So… anyway… enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?"

Maxome then suddenly got to her feet.

"It is chilly." She said, her voice now sounding more cold than the weather. "I think I will go in now."

"Eh?" Hagrid said blankly. "No, don' go! I've - I've never met another one before!"

"Anuzzer what, precisely?" Maxime asked in an icy tone.

Arthur could have told Hagrid that he shouldn't answer that, but he just stood there, hoping he didn't, but Hagrid did.

"Another half-giant, o' course!"

"'Ow dare you!" Maxime shrieked, her voice exploding through the peaceful night air as though she were a foghorn. Fleur and Davies fell out from their rose bush. "I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-giant? Moi? I 'ave - I 'ave big bones!"

She then stormed off, multicoloured swarms of fairies rising into the air as she passed, angrily pushing aside bushes.

Hagrid still sat on the bench, staring after her. It was too dark to see his expression but then after a minute, he stood and walked away, towards his cabin.

"We need to go." Arthur said very quietly before noticing the very serious expressions on David and Mike's faces.

"What is it? Arthur asked.

"Did you know that Hagrid's a half-giant?" David asked.

"No. I never even bothered guessing, what's the big deal?" Arthur questioned. Despite being a part of the wizarding world, he still didn't know everything.

"We'll explain inside, let's go." Mike said.

Both Fleur and Davies disappeared, most likely to a more private clump of bushes.

The three returned to the Great Hall and Arthur saw both Parvati and Padma sitting at a distant table with some Beauxbatons boys and Chrys was dancing with Krum again.

The three boys sat at a table far removed from the dance floor.

"So what's the problem with giants?" Arthur asked, getting straight to the point.

"They're not exactly nice." David said.

"But Hagrid's perfectly fine!" Arthur retorted.

"We know, but… jeez, no wonder he keeps that fact quiet." Mike shook his head.

"Just why would it matter if his mother's a giantess?" Arthur then asked.

"Because even though those that know him don't care, 'cause they know he's not dangerous, giants are known to be vicious." David said. "Like Hagrid said, it's in their nature, just like trolls… they just like to kill, it's common knowledge in the wizarding community."

"But there aren't any left in Britain." Mike pointed out.

"What happened?" Arthur asked.

"They were dying out regardless, but then loads of them got killed by Aurors. They're apparently abroad in the mountains…." Mike replied.

"In that case, Maxime is nothing but a liar." Arthur snorted. "'Big bones', yeah right. She's much taller than Hagrid, so she's a half-giant without question."

The three boys spent the rest of the ball discussing giants in their corner, none of them showing signs that they wanted to dance.

Eventually, when the Weird Sisters finished playing at midnight, everyone gave one last round of applause and made their way into the Entrance Hall. A lot of them expressed that they wanted the ball to last longer, but Arthur was actually glad it was as he wanted to go to bed right now.

Out in the Entrance Hall, the bots saw Chrys saying goodnight to Krum before he went back to the Durmstrang ship. She gave David a cold look before sweeping past him up the marble staircase without saying a word.

They followed after her but when they reached halfway up, Arthur heard Cedric's voice call for him.

"Hey, Arthur!"

Arthur turned and saw that Cho was waiting for him in the Entrance Hall below.

"Yeah?" He then said as Cedric ran up the stairs towards him. Both David and Mike continued on with Arthur, knowing it would most likely be something private.

"Listen…" Cedric lowered his voice. "...I owe you one for telling me about the dragons. You know that golden egg? Does yours wail when you open it?"

"Yeah." Arthur nodded.

"Well… take a bath, okay?"

"Huh?" Arthur squinted his eyes in confusion.

"Take a bath, and - er - take the egg with you, and - er - just mull things over in the hot water. It'll help you think… trust me."

"Okay…." Arthur said, not seeing the point at the moment.

"Tell you what, use the Prefects' bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password's Pine-fresh. Gotta go… want to say goodnight -"

Cedric grinned at Arthur again before hurrying back to Cho.

Arthur walked back to Gryffindor Tower on his own.

He was thinking about the advice Cedric gave him. Why would he suggest taking the egg to the Prefects' bathroom?

He remembered the detail of what was inside the golden shell and that there were bubbles.

That's when it hit him. If it has something to do with the water, then perhaps the egg is meant to be opened up underwater and not in the air.

After yelling the password to a snoozing Fat Lady with her friend Violet, he entered the common room and found that both David and Chrys had their first ever shouting match. They stood ten feet apart, bellowing at each other, scarlet in their faces.

"If that's the case then ask me before someone else if there's another ball!" Chrys shrieked at David.

"You shouldn't have even gone with him! Need I keep reminding you he's an adult? You're still underage! It's just wrong!" David roared back before he stormed up to the boys' dormitory.

Arthur sighed, worried that their friendship could be over. They both had fair points, though David had the better argument.

But he didn't let it be known.

Am I the only one who feels that Krum and Hermione being a thing shouldn't be the case for the points that I mentioned in this chapter?