Chapter 7: Dungeons and Dances
A/N: I don't own anything!
As the weekend ended, Professor McGonagall called a meeting of the Gryffindor household minus the first years. They met in the common room after dinner, the older students were talking excitedly amongst themselves. The Professor allowed them to talk a bit, then calmed them all down. "Hollowe'en is coming up. As the older students are aware, after the dinner, we will be having a dance." The second year students all seemed to freeze up at these words and the older students laughed a bit.
"The first years are not invited nor usually informed of this event as they are still getting comfortable to the school and to their magic. I trust you will represent our house well and follow all rules. There will be other events as well throughout the year, and I will be keeping a stern eye on all of you." After some explanation of the rules, Professor McGonagall bade them goodnight and saw them off to bed.
Harry and the other second year boys chatted amongst themselves in their dorm room. Draco regaled them with talk of ballroom dances and how he had been taught to dance. The others took it with their usual grain of salt as Malfoy had been known to exaggerate. One only had to think about how his grip had been corrected in Broom flying class after tales of Helicopters. The rest were worried about finding a partner to dance with, and even if they should find partners.
The weeks went quickly, as did the available dates. Harry found himself approached by several giggling second years that he barely knew or met as well as some third years who blushed furiously but Harry silently applauded their courage. He would rather go with someone he knew, but he really only knew Hermione personally, and there were also the other Gryffindor girls to consider as well. It was incredibly hard to tell if his friends had dates so Harry just went with the flow.
During their classes, Lockhart had become more foppish in his teaching than before. He taught them personal care charms and beautification ideas rather than anything to do with defense. Harry had wished to ask if they would study the arts or if there would even be another practical lesson, but the Professor always had an excuse to head to his office or that he had other duties to attend to. Owls flew into the Great Hall carrying disguised dress robes and small packages containing shiny bobbles.
Harry watched the older students carefully talk about what their plans were, amazed that the first years weren't finding out. He supposed it was just as high a priority as the sorting as Draco hadn't known about the hat or the dances. As the weeks quickly passed, Harry decided he'd go 'stag' with his mates as he was far too nervous for a partner and he had no idea what to do in terms of dancing anyway. Draco seemed to be the only one with a date, Pansy Parkinson in Slytherin. This was set up by his parents and while Ron made fun of him, Harry supported him.
Hollowe'en dinner was as decadent and fun as last year. In a move that Harry considered overkill, the students were led back to the common rooms, 'sent to bed', then the older students were picked up and led back to the Great Hall. The older students found their own area of the Hall and began dancing to the music crystal that had been likely organized by the Hufflepuff who has near an oddly arranged station and overseen by a stern looking Professor McGonagall. Some of the second years danced awkwardly, but most of them were playing some set up games. Professor Vector and Ron were locked in a heated chess battle but Harry decided he'd just play Gobstones against Neville. Hermione watched them and they had a pretty fun time playing several games Harry and Hermione had never seen.
It was during a very intense game of exploding snap that Filch ran into the room crying. The students stared at him in shock, he was usually incredibly intense and showed absolutely no emotion. He ran up to Dumbledore, crying aloud, "Mrs. Norris! Someone has killed Mrs. Norris!"