I hope you guys all enjoy this chapter. Reviews are welcome. All rights and characters belong to J.K Rowling.
It was the night of the Yuleball. Students were bustling around in Hogwarts's halls, getting ready for the event. Of course, Harry Potter was unenthusiastic about the entire affair. Staring at the ceiling, Harry was lying down on his bed. On the desk nearby, Tom and Helga were staring at each other, almost like they were in deep conversation. However, Harry didn't suspect a thing. He was thinking about he was going to do tonight. Then, he heard a knock from the painting.
"Come in," Harry called out before the painting swung open to reveal Neville and his date. Neville's date was a girl with a bright flaming-red hair, tied up into a ponytail, but her hair still reached her shoulders. She had outstanding freckles and the brightest brown eyes anyone could ever see. She wore a simple white gown, but it fit perfectly with her well-tanned skin. She was smiling at Harry as she stood next to a red-faced Neville.
"Is this your date, Neville?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow at this red-head beauty. He then looked at his friend to see him in a rather handsome tux. Neville just nodded his head, almost like he's afraid to speak.
"I'm Ginny Weasley," the girl took the initiative, offering her hand for Harry to take. Recognition flashed Harry's eyes as he shook Ginny's hand.
"I'm assuming you were the one to ask Neville out to the Yuleball," Harry stated.
"I've always fancied Neville a bit despite what everyone says about him," Ginny replied, making Harry raise his eyebrow again. "When I heard about the Yuleball, I saw this as an opportunity to get to know him." Harry nodded his head in understanding before he turned his head to a still embarrassed Neville. Harry was amused by this and decided to help his fellow student out.
"Neville, stop acting so stiff. I know it is a surprise for you to get asked by a beauty such as Ginny, but you're a man and therefore, you need to zip up and show her a good time," Harry lightly scolded Neville. His words seemed to shake Neville out of his stupor.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," Neville immediately apologized, looking at his date.
"It's ok. I know it's a surprise to you that anyone would take an interest in you," Ginny replied, smiling knowingly. "I'm just glad you didn't flake out on me." Neville looked at her in shock.
"Who would flake out on you?!" Neville exclaimed. Ginny just giggled in response.
"You won't believe how intimidating it is to have a brother, who is besties with the 'Boy-Who-Lived.' Many of the boys, who asked me out, always seems to dump me before we even go out," Ginny explained before lightly hitting Neville's arm. "Now then, why did you bring me here?"
"Oh yeah," Neville responded before looking at Harry. "I brought Ginny here, so we can go to the Yuleball together, Harry." Harry looked at Neville for a moment before he looked down at himself. He was just wearing sweats and a random top he whipped out of his trunk to wear for comfort.
"You know you have to attend, Harry. Dumbledore said so," Neville stated, already recognizing Harry's 'going-to-get-out-of-something' face. Harry said nothing, going inside his room. Ginny and Neville watched as the painting closed off the room. Neville's mood fell as Ginny placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I know he is your friend, but sometimes, you just have to let someone be. Eventually, he will turn around," Ginny told Neville. Neville just nodded his head before taking Ginny's hand into his own.
"I think it's time I finally showed you a good time," Neville spoke with a surprising amount of confidence. A bright smile appeared on Ginny's face at Neville's words. The two were about to walk away when the painting swung open to reveal Harry in a simple black tux, fixing up his cufflinks. Neville and Ginny just looked at Harry with mouths wide open as Harry finished setting up his cufflinks and looked at them.
"What? Did you really think I would risk my life to avoid going to a stupid ball?" Harry asked, fixing up his red tie.
"Yeah, I did," Neville answered truthfully.
"You've gained quite a reputation for your unwillingness in the Triwizard Tournament. Most people just assumed you wouldn't come to the Yuleball," Ginny explained.
"Let's just go," Harry grumbled. The three of them made their way to the Great Hall, where the Yuleball was taking place. Entering the Great Hall, it was an astounding sight. On a stage, multiple musical instruments were playing together in tune to one another. Multiple students were dancing together and had bright smiles on their faces. Above the students, there were multiple candles with dark purple-colored flames, illuminating the room in a nice purple light. Near the stage, there was row of luxurious food constantly being refilled. Around the edges of the hall, there were booths for tired dance partners to rest their feet or eat.
"They really went all out for this dance," Harry commented. Neville and Ginny nodded their heads in agreement. "So, you two should probably start to dance. I will be at the food table if you need me for anything."
"Ok, see you later, Harry," Ginny said while Neville was looking at a different direction with gobsmacked expression on his face.
"Neville, what's wrong with you?" Harry asked, noticing the look on Neville's face. Neville just pointed in the direction he was looking at. Ginny and Harry turned their heads to see Hermione, in a gorgeous light pink dress with a sapphire necklace around her neck, linking arms with no other than Viktor Krum in Russian formal dress wear.
"Is that Hermione with Viktor?!" Harry exclaimed, clearly surprised.
"Oh, Hermione must be the envy of most girls," Ginny commented as well before she tugged on Neville's sleeve. "Come on, let's dance."
"Oh, ok," Neville quickly responded before he led Ginny to the dancefloor, leaving Harry to stand by himself at the entrance to the Great Hall.
"Well then, I know what I will be doing for the rest of the night," Harry muttered to himself before he walked over to the food table. He picked up a plate before placing some food for himself. He walked over to one of the many empty booths and sat down. Angling himself to see everyone dancing, Harry started to eat his meal. He wasn't in a rush, so he ate slowly, savouring the well-cooked food. He ate and watched Neville and Hermione dance with their partners. Harry wouldn't lie if he felt a pang of jealously in his stomach, but he ignored it. Then, he saw Fleur dancing with someone Harry didn't know. He caught the happy face on her face, but failed to detect the disinterest in her eyes as she danced elegantly with her date. After about thirty minutes of eating, Harry placed his fork on the table.
"I'm bored," Harry stated to himself.
"Then, do something about it," a mysterious male voice spoke. Harry whipped around to find the source of the voice to find nowhere there.
"What the hell?" Harry thought as he positioned back onto his seat. His mind was racing to try and figure out who the source of the voice was. In fact he was so preoccupied, he didn't notice the Headmasters entering the hall.
"Wizards and Witches, I hope all of you are having a fantastic time together," Dumbledore's voice resounded out in the Great Hall. Immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the Headmasters.
"As everyone knows, tonight is the Yuleball, an event that comes along with the Triwizard Tournament to celebrate the union of all three schools. I hope all of our students interact with each other and treat one another with courtesy and the respect they deserve. Now then, to officially start the Yuleball, it is tradition to have all the Champions to perform a dance with their respective partners," Dumbledore announced to the Hall. Harry groaned as Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric walked up to the centre of the dance floor.
"Mr Potter, come on up," Dumbledore called out. Harry facepalmed as he saw many eyes turn towards him.
"Leave me alone, Dum-ble-dore," Harry stated.
"I'm sorry, Mr Potter, but all Champions must be present to officially start the Yuleball," Dumbledore told Harry in a calm manner.
"I don't have a dance partner, so I can't do your stupid tradition," Harry replied, waving his hand. He was sure he heard someone snicker, but he couldn't stuff finding out and beating them until they could no longer cry for their mommy. Dumbledore just took in a deep breath and looked at the other Champions.
"Let the dancing begin," Dumbledore smiled before clapping his hands. A slow tempo could be heard from the musical instruments as the Champions started to dance with their partners. Harry continued watch and eat his remaining meal.
"You're pathetic, Harry James Potter," Harry heard the voice again. He whipped around again, searching for the source of the voice. Luckily, most of the people were focusing on the dancing Champions, so Harry could look around frantically like a madman without being interrupted. After a moment, he sat back down properly just as the song ended. Everyone applauded the Champions.
"Well done, Champions. With that, I officially proclaim the start of the Yuleball," Dumbledore stated before clapping his hands. A waltz started to play as everyone got into place to dance. Harry just watched this with a bored expression on his face.
"Harry, aren't you going to try and dance with someone?" Harry heard Hermione's voice. He lazily turned his head to see Hermione looking at him with Viktor.
"Nah, what are you two doing? I thought you would be dancing right now," Harry replied, looking at his empty plate.
"Viktor and I are going to eat first before we dance more," Hermione answered Harry's question.
"Hey, Viktor," Harry greeted, waving at Hermione's date.
"Evening, 'Arry," Viktor responded before whispering something into Hermione's ear.
"Sorry, Harry, Viktor and I are going to go now," Hermione told Harry.
"It's fine. I'm just going to relax here until I can leave," Harry responded. Hermione just smiled sadly at Harry before she walked to the food table with Viktor. Harry just watched them before he searched around for Fleur to see her still dancing with the stranger. Harry just sighed, leaning even more against his booth seat.
"The bird was right. You are such a coward. I can't believe you became like this, Harry," Harry heard the voice speak for the third time that night. He jerked up and turned his head to see a shadow around the corner of the entrance. Without a moment's hesitation, Harry pushed his way through the crowd and exited the Hall.
"Mr Potter!" Harry heard Dumbledore call out to him, but he didn't stop as he caught sight of the shadow running down the hall. He chased it before turning the corner to see only a moonlit hallway.
"What the hell?" Harry said before he felt the hairs at the back of his neck tingle. He carefully turned around to see the shadow right there.
"Who are you?" Harry demanded to know, walking up to the shadow. With each step Harry took, he saw the shadow back away the same amount. Perplexed, Harry decided to draw out his wand to place a trapping spell on the shadow. Suddenly, the shadow tackled Harry into the ground before covering him with something.
"Get off," Harry struggled to break the shadow's grip, but he stopped as he saw the shadow lift something: a black pistol. He watched as the shadow pointed the pistol in a certain direction. In that direction, he could see Fleur walking over to where he was.
"Harry, are you here?" Harry could hear Fleur call out. The shadow placed a finger on Harry's lips as it kept the gun pointed towards an approaching Fleur. A million thoughts ran through Harry's mind as he tired to think of a way to save Fleur's life. To his surprise, Fleur passed them and nothing happened. After Fleur was out of eyesight, the shadow moved its finger away from Harry's lips.
"You disappoint me, Harry Potter," Harry heard the voice again as the shadow let Harry stand up.
"What do you mean by that?" Harry demanded to know again. All the shadow did was chuck the pistol at Harry, who caught it easily. It then disappeared, leaving Harry shocked. He then looked back up to see the shadow missing.
"What the hell?" Harry wondered before he started to feel light-headed. His vision turned blurry, making him stumble a bit. Then, darkness claimed him. With a loud thud, Harry was on the floor, unconscious.