Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 9: Let the feast begin.
The Great Hall was hushed into silence when Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy walked in for breakfast holding hands and laughing like they've been friends for years. Ginny and Blaise were not far behind them, Ginny was tucked into Blaise's arm and he was whispering into her ear while she blushed. Ron walked in behind them glaring at the back of Blaise's head for daring to touch his baby sister. They all sat down at the Gryffindor table and began to eat like nothing was wrong.
"So Hermione are you going to go to the ball with me tomorrow night?" Draco asked, the Gryffindor students whipped their heads around to stare at the couple. Hermione smiled and nodded her head lightly. Draco grinned and then kissed her cheek. Blaise had already asked Ginny earlier in the dorm. The teachers stared at the two couples in shock, while McGonagall sat there with a triumphant smirk on her face as she drank her pumpkin juice.
"Hey Ginny where is Harry? I wanted to ask if he wanted to go to the ball with me." Parvati asked. Ginny turned away from Blaise for a moment to smile at the girl.
"Oh we left Harry upstairs… He has other things to do today." Ginny said smiling.
"Oh that's okay maybe I'll just go up and ask him then." Parvati said before Ginny or Hermione could stop her. The two girls looked at each other before shrugging and going back to the boys. Parvati made her way up to the 7th floor and knocked on the portrait door to the Head's dormitories, after a few minutes of knocking she sighed and turned around, just then the door opened.
"Parvati what are you doing here?" Harry asked her, Parvati turned around to see Harry with his uniform shirt unbuttoned and open showing off his undershirt that clung to his stomach muscles.
"Well I… I was just wondering if…" Parvati stuttered blushing, Harry stood there smiling at her before a voice at the bottom of the stairs called out his name. Harry blocked Parvati from seeing the girl but she quickly side stepped him to try to see around his shoulder.
"Harry, who's at the door?" The girl asked him softly. From behind him Parvati could see the outline of a smile on his face
"It's my friend Parvati." He told her, the girl nodded.
"Are you going to come get ready we have to leave soon." She told him, Harry smiled and nodded his head.
"I'll be right there I promise." Harry told her laughing. "Don't pout, you look like a little kid. Go upstairs and wait for me there, I'll be up in a minute" He told her smirking playfully. Parvati cleared her throat making Harry turn back toward her quickly. When he turned around Parvati could see long bare legs in an oversized uniform shirt, a boys obviously, and a swish of long blonde and pink hair making its way back up the stairs. Parvati gasped as she realized just who was waiting upstairs for Harry and who was wearing his uniform shirt.
"So what were you trying to ask me?" Harry asked, snapping Parvati out of her daze, she smiled up at him.
"It's nothing important, have a nice day Harry." She said as she turned and walked away, Harry stared after her before shrugging his shoulders and shutting the door. Parvati ran down the stairs towards the Great Hall after she heard the door shut behind Harry, she slowed to a walk and then sat next to her sister and whispered into her ear.
"What?" Padma yelled, Parvati shushed her but it was too late the whole hall had turned towards the sisters. Lavender scooted towards them and rested her chin on the palm of her hand.
"What are you two talking about?" She asked, Padma grinned and leaned over and whispered the secret into her ear. Lavender's eyes widened.
"Harry Potter is possibly having sex with Dumbledore's granddaughter?" Lavender asked out loud shocked. The Hall was quiet before everyone started talking about what they just heard. Snape stood slamming his hand down on the table.
"Miss Brown and the Patil sisters detention for a week, with me starting the day after tomorrow, for spreading a false rumor. Next time it would be best to keep your mouths shut." Snape said his voice dangerously low. He swept a deadly glance across the Hall before sitting back down at the table. The Hall was quite for a long time before May and Harry walked through the doors. They sat at the Gryffindor table and began to fill their plates with food.
"What is everyone looking at?" Harry asked the table, May sat next to him nibbling on a piece of fruit.
"Everyone seems to think that you and my niece are having relations." Snape said behind them, Harry jumped slightly before turning around with a bewildered look on his face.
"Relations? What kind of relations?" May asked, looking up at Snape, she shared a confused look with Harry, who shrugged.
"The sexual kind of relations Amelia." Snape said in a low voice, May and Harry looked at each other before blushing before turning away from each other.
"Uncle! Of course we aren't doing that kind of thing." May stuttered blushing bright red. Harry blushed bright red while looking away from May.
"Why would you think that Sir?" He asked Snape who looked down at him before glancing at Parvati.
"Miss Patil why don't you share with the rest of us." Snape said the pair turned towards Parvati who blushed before talking.
"Well I went to go ask Harry to the ball." She began blushing as she told everyone that she planned to ask Harry to the ball. "When he answered the door his shirt was unbuttoned with his undershirt showing and he had boxers on and then before I could ask Harry, May came down wearing one of his uniform shirts and nothing else." At that point in the story most of the older boys in the Hall began to whistle and some Gryffindor boys patted Harry on the back, while he blushed and shrank away from Snape's intense gaze. "So anyways she came down in his shirt and asked if he was coming back upstairs because they have to go somewhere. So I came down and told my sister and Lavender what I saw" Parvati said looking away from Harry's eyes.
"So you then came down here and spread a rumor that Harry and I were having sex?" May asked as she turned toward the girl, Parvati nodded her head. "First off I wore his shirt because the boys wanted to play a prank on me and decided to hide all of my sleepwear and I was wearing shorts under his shirt, Ginny's shorts, for your information. Second of all, even if Harry and I were together, it's nobody's business except ours, and third next time you want to spread a rumor about me you might want to get your facts straight before you do, because all you have succeeded in doing is making yourself look foolish in front of Harry and everybody else in the school." May told the Parvati, Padma and Lavender, who at least had the decency to look ashamed.
"I can't believe you would spread a rumor like that Parvati, I thought you had better things to do with your time." Harry said before he stood up and grabbed May's hand before walking to the door. "Just for everyone's information May and I are together." Harry said before he pulled May into his chest and kissed her on the lips, her eyes widened in shock before she closed them and melted into his kiss. Boys from the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Syltherin table began to clap and whistle at the pair. Harry pulled away from May, looking down at her, her face was flushed and her eyes were still closed. Harry smirked before he pecked her on the nose causing her to open her eyes.
"We still have to go." She said shortly, biting her lip, still in a slight daze. Harry nodded before he laced his hand with hers and walked out of the hall, leading May out. When they head the door close May stepped away from him and touched her lips with her fingers.
"What was that about?" May whispered, Harry smiled down at her and lead her behind a statue, he placed her against the wall and then put each of his hands on the wall beside her head and leaned over her. May looked up at him shocked while her cheeks took on a deep red.
"I just thought we should really give them something to talk about." He told her as he smirked. "Plus it was fun to make you all flustered back there." He said chuckling while he tried to avoid getting hit by her tiny hands.
"Harry I can't believe you did that to me." May said as she bombarded his chest and arms with close fisted hits. "Go ahead laugh all you want now, but when word gets out to my father about this; he'll hang you from your toes and dip you in water infested with electric eels." May hissed out at him, Harry stopped laughing to look at her face to see that she was worried about what might happen if her father really did find out.
"Don't worry about it; I'm sure Snape knew that I was just trying to ruffle yours and everyone else's feathers. He won't take me serious." Harry said as he placed a stray strand of hair back behind her ear.
"I hope you're right, for your sake. Well come on I only have today and some time tomorrow to get this down so we need to leave." May said as she laced her arm with his and together they walked out of the entrance of Hogwarts.
May led Harry along on the crowded streets filled with people talking on cell phones and drinking coffee and trying to hail a bright yellow cab. May held Harry's hand as she stood at the cross walk waiting for the light to turn green. The light changed and she began to walk across the street, she looked over to Harry to see he was taking in all the sights that this city held in silent wonder, May smiled at him before turning back to the street and where she was walking. After a few more minutes of walking the two came upon a large building and entered. May smiled softly at the girl behind the desk whose eyes widened when she saw her walk in the door.
"May is that you?" the girl asked. May nodded her head; she tugged Harry gently with her as she walked toward the girl behind the desk.
"Hello Amy, it's been a while. Is your mother here, I need to speak with her, it's very important." May told the girl, Amy, who nodded her head smiling largely at her.
"She's in practice room B with the advanced group today." Amy told her softly. "You can just go on in, she won't mind if it's you interrupting the class for a little bit." She told May. May nodded and winked at Amy as she walked past her with Harry following close behind her.
"May what is this place?" Harry whispered to her, only to get no response in return, he glanced at May to see her in deep thought. Harry ran into May's back, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway as if she just remembered something, she turned back around and headed to the front desk.
"Amy is it possible that I could borrow some clothes? It seems I forgot to pack mine in the rush to get here… and some shoes as well, size 6." May asked the girl shyly. Amy nodded before rushing to the back door and came back with a pair of black spandex shorts with pink tights and a black tank top. She then handed May the shoes she needed and placed a hair tie on her wrist as well, before she went and sat back down behind the desk, she grabbed May and hugged her tightly.
"We missed you." Amy whispered before going back to sit down in her chair. May smiled sadly and she put her hand over Amy's and then walked back to Harry who was still standing in the hallway waiting for her to come back. May shot him a look telling him she wasn't going to answer any of his questions right now. May opened the door quietly, luckily for her the people inside didn't notice that the door opened and two people were now looking in on them.
'A dance studio, what are we doing here?' Harry thought to himself as he watched the group of girls spin in circles over and over again on the tips of their feet, he shot a glance at May and saw that she was smiling brightly. Soon the loud music ended and the girls all finished their group dance with separate poses. May smiled and began to clap loudly. The class turned their attention over to the pair by the door. May took a step forward still clapping,
"Still a fabulous teacher as always I see." May said smirking over at the woman who looked to be in her early 40's. She was tall and lean with striking red hair and bright blue eyes. She narrowed her eyes at May before her face broke out into a large grin and she walked over to her to pull May into a tight hug.
"It's been awhile, I've missed you." Madam whispered into May blonde hair.
"Well I'm here now, and I was wondering if I could have a refreshers course, I have to perform tomorrow and I've decided what dance I want to do and I need your wonderful teaching skills so I don't make a fool out of myself." May told Madam looking up at her. She nodded her head; May squealed and clapped her hands. "I'll get changed, be back in a flash." May said before she ran out of the door leaving Harry standing next to Madam alone. He nodded his head at her before looking around awkwardly. A few minutes passed before May came back in wearing the spandex shorts tights and top, along with the shoes that she got out in the front lobby.
"So I have to perform a dance at my birthday ball as part of a family tradition and I need help." May told the dance teacher who nodded her head, and a look of pure concentration past her face.
"Have you kept up with your dance?" She asked. May shook her head shamefully.
"I practice here and there, but I'm no where near the level that I used to be when I studied with you." The teacher nodded her head and walked over to May; she clapped her hands together and patted her shoulder. May nodded her head and placed her leg on top of the woman's shoulder to stretch. Harry looked on curiously before he just decided to sit down on the ground in front of the mirror.
"Do you think you can still do Pointe?" Madam asked May nodded after a few seconds.
"I just have to get my feet used to it again… and quickly." May said blowing her bangs out of her face. May continued to switch between doing poses and practicing getting back up on Pointe. After an hour or two of practicing she said that her feet were used to being on Pointe again and she was ready to practice a dance; surprisingly her feet didn't start to bleed. Madam nodded her head and called her over to her laptop showing her a video of the dance that she was thinking of having her do. May watched each step and when it was done she shook her head. Telling her she had a different dance in mind for her big moment of her father seeing her dance
"Harry, this might take a while, you might want to go with Amy to get something to eat." May told him, Harry nodded his head and stood up, stretching his back out, causing the girls that were still in the room to giggle when his shirt lifted and showed off his muscular abs. Harry blushed before going over to May and kissing her on her forehead.
"I'll get you some water and a sandwich with some fruit alright." He told her before kissing her on the top of her head again and walking out of the studio. May smiled after him before turning her attention back to Madam, who had a grin on her face a mile long. May blushed and rolled her eyes.
"So I'm thinking I'll end up doing two dances. The Grand Pas De Deux in The Nutcracker, between the sugar plum fairy and her prince, the Royal Ballet choreography of course, and then I was thinking the Dying Swan, from Maya Plisetskaya when she toured in Tokyo." May said as she stretched her leg out onto the bar in front of her.
"I assume you want to wait until you get your food to practice them." May smiled sheepishly before going back to practicing her Pointe and turns. Madam called one of the boy dancers in from another room and told him to dance the Pas De Deux with another girl so May could see the steps. A little ways through the dance Harry walked back into the room quietly and handed May her food along with her water and a Soda for him. He sat next to May silently watching the two dancers perform, he slung his arm around May's shoulders and nudged her to start eating her food. When the two finished the dance May clapped loudly as she took a sip from her water.
"Amelia I'm sure you picked up on Brittany's mistakes, I'm positive that you won't make them when you dance next with Lance." May nodded before standing up and walking over to Brittany.
"Don't take it to heart I think you did an amazing job, when she's tough on you like that it just means that she knows that you can be an amazing ballerina one day. She likes you, I can tell." May said as she patted her on the shoulder before going over to introduce herself to Lance. Harry sat against the wall with a smile on his face. He winked at May when she looked over at him; she gave him a large smile before turning back to Lance.
Madam soon turned on the radio and soon the large studio was filled with music. May took a deep breath before she began to dance. Harry sat on the ground staring at her in wonder. When ever he saw her walking she was always clumsy and tripping, watching her dance ballet was amazing. She moved gracefully like she was floating just slightly off the ground. She made it look like it was second nature to her even though she said she hadn't danced for a long time. She looked like she was at home, like she always looked when he and Ron watched her swim around in the Prefects bathroom. He gave a startled gasp when she leaped into the boy's arms and let him spin her in mid air only to place her back on her feet to get ready to leap back into his arms once more. The fact that she trusted him already after just meeting him showed Harry what a sweet person May was. When the dance ended Harry clapped loudly along with the other dancers that were still in the room. May looked over at him and blushed hiding her face.
"Can we run it again? I need to make sure I have it down." May asked Lance, who nodded his head and got back into position. They continued to run the dance until May was sure that she had it memorized. By that time it was already 3 in the afternoon, May sighed as she collapsed on the floor next to Harry. She put her feet on his lap and had her arms under her head. Harry smiled over at her lightly.
"Tired?" she looked over at him and nodded her head; she closed her eyes for a short time before she stood back up and walked over to Madam.
"Ready for the next dance?" May sighed but nodded her head anyways. She stood there as Madam refreshed her memory of the steps before she went and sat back down near the radio. Madam replaced the CD and skipped to the right track before nodding to May to get into position. Harry watched her dance still amazed at how gracefully she moved across the floor, amazed by her arms that truly did look like swan wings that were in the midst of flight. He watched in silence as she danced her way around the floor. The other students sat by the other door where watching her as well. As Harry continued to watch her dance he had an overwhelming feeling of sadness wash over him as he looked upon her face and the emotions that she displayed. He spared a look over to the teacher to see that she smiling serenely over at May, he then looked over to the other dancer to see that they too where feeling that overwhelming sense of sadness as they watched her dance. When the music came to an end the dancers stood and clapped loudly. May smiled brightly at them before taking a small bow before beginning to run it again. Soon all of the dance students left so it was just Harry, May, Madam and Amy left.
Harry looked at his watch and saw that it was about 6:30pm, London time; he cleared his throat and told me that they would have to be leaving soon, if they wanted to make it back in time for dinner.
"Thank you Madam for letting me practice, I promise I'll let you know how my performance goes tomorrow night. I had fun dancing again." May told her as she kissed her on the cheek; she smiled at Amy before she ruffled her hair and grabbed her clothes from Harry.
"Wait! Before you go, I want you to have these." Madam said as she went into the closet that was next to the entrance. She came out with two dress bags and handed them to May.
"These where my old costumes when I danced The Dying Swan and the Grand Pas De Deux, I want you to have them." Madam said. May shook her head going to refuse them but Madam shoved them into her arms and pulled her into a hug.
"Don't be a stranger." She said before she turned around and walked up the stairs, wiping her eyes on the way up. May smiled over at Amy before giving the girl a long hug. She sighed pulling away and walked out of the door with Harry following behind her.
"Let's go home." Harry wrapped his arms around her waist before he apperated them to the front gates of Hogwarts, he laced his fingers with hers before leading her back into the castle and up to the Heads Dorm so she could shower and change. By the time they reached the mermaid portrait and walked into the room it was 7pm, May had about 30 minutes to bathe and then change her clothes.
"I'll be out shortly" May told him in a tired voice. Harry nodded his head telling her that he was going to run to the Gryffindor common room so he could change his clothes and shower quickly. He told her that he would be back at 7:30 and to wait for him here.
At 7:32 Harry walked back into the Heads Dorm and sat on the couch. He stood and turned when he heard footsteps walking down the stairs. His breath caught in his throat as May descended the stairs in a flowing royal blue dress that stopped at her knees and brought out her lovely gray eyes. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back in soft curls. On her small feet were black sandals. She had no make up on besides some clear lips gloss. Harry took a deep breath and walked towards the foot of the stairs.
"Wow, you look…beautiful." May smiled brightly up at him blushing lightly.
"So do you." Harry chuckled and said thank you. May wasn't lying when she said he looked wonderful. He was wearing dark wash jeans with a white T-shirt and a dark navy suite jacket, around his neck was a stripped black and gray tie.
"I wasn't sure how I was supposed to dress, but seeing you I feel a little better that I won't stick out much." Harry said as he held his arm out for her to take. May raised a well groomed eyebrow before placing her hand into the crook of his elbow and let him guide her to the Great Hall. Once outside May stopped to take a deep breath, when she was ready she nodded her head and let Harry push open the door. She raised her chin when she noticed everyone staring at her and Harry. She shook her head lightly, trying to get rid of her nerves; she let out a breath that she had been holding when Harry gave her hand a gentle squeeze before she took a seat in between Hermione and Ginny, who moved over a seat for Harry to sit next to her. May looked over towards the Teachers table and noticed that the table had been lengthened and formed into a half rectangle. 7 empty spots stood out.
McGonagall stood up, silencing the students.
"I'd like to welcome every student to my granddaughter's birthday feast. I hope you all have fun today and look forward to her birthday ball tomorrow night. I'm sure everyone has their dresses and robes that they will be wearing." The students gave a sound of excitement at the mention of the ball tomorrow night.
"Now without further ado, I present to you my daughter Marina her husband Merrick along with their 4 lovely daughters." The Great Hall clapped politely only to be floored into shocked states as four breathtakingly beautiful girls walked into the hall, each wearing matching dresses in the color black. Harry looked over at May to see that she was smiling happily as the four girls walked into the Hall and stood over by McGonagall.
After a few minutes of pause May's parents walked through the door, causing some people to gasp. Marina was wearing a navy blue floor length dress, and Merrick was wearing an all black suite which made his electric blue eyes pop out against the contrast of the suite.
"Amelia come over here." McGonagall said. May stood up from the table and walked over to the six beautiful people. She bowed respectfully before smiling largely up at them.
"Daddy!" Merrick's laughter echoed through the room sounding like a hypnotizing song, causing many girls to sigh, as he picked May up and held her in his arms.
"Hello my little pearl, we've missed you." He said as he sat her back down on the ground. May smiled and then hugged her mother tightly giving a soft 'I missed you too'
"Well don't we get hugs? We haven't seen you years!" One of May's sisters called out causing her to laugh and detangle herself from her mother. She then went to each of her sisters.
"Girls introduce yourselves." Merrick said in a soft but commanding voice
"Yes father." The girls said as they stepped forward. A girl with short black hair stepped forward first
"Hello I'm Andrina and I'm Amelia's fourth eldest sister." She said smiling before curtsying before stepping back in line, next was a girl with shoulder length blonde hair
"I'm Laelia and I'm her third eldest sister." A girl with long flowing wavy brown hair stepped forward next. "I'm Coralia and I'm her second eldest sister." The final sister, a beautiful girl with tan skin and long red hair that reached her waist, stepped forward "Hello I'm Arista and I'm May's eldest sister." She said before stepping back into line with her sisters. All the girls had their fathers piercing blue eyes. May's smiled lessened as she took in the one missing spot.
"Amelia I can see that you're disappointed that Nick didn't come but we have a surprise for you, so close your eyes." Marina said as she turned May toward the door and covered her eyes with her hands.
May heard the Great Hall door open and then she heard collective gasps from many people. She heard a few girls sigh out an 'Oh my' before her mother took her hands away from her face and she was standing there looking at the face of the one person that she desperately wanted to see.
There in the doorway stood a gorgeous man. He stood tall at a height of 6'5", the girls that looked upon him sighed longingly. He had tan skin and midnight black colored hair, much like his father; his eyes were a breathtakingly deep shade of sea green. His bright white smile was all May could see.
"Finnick?" she whispered before taking a shy step forward and then another before she was at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the teachers table. Her eyes already filled with tears.
"Hey tadpole." He said smiling brightly. May gave a soft sob before running towards him and launching herself into his open arms. The minute she wrapped her arms around his neck she broke into hysterical sobs; Finnick wrapped his muscular arms around May's waist and held her as she cried. He stood by the door and ran his hand through her hair as his other was wrapped around her waist tightly.
The boys at the Gryffindor table were staring at Harry waiting for him to react, to get up angrily and demand that this man take his hands off of her. Harry stared at the pair with a blank expression. He studied the pair quickly and noticed that the man's hold on her was more like the hold that Draco or Blaise had with her when they carried her up to bed or walked her to class. He then realized that he was her family, and by the way that her mother was tearing up, he was someone very important to May.
"Tadpole, when did you start crying so much?" Finnick asked chuckling softly, as he pulled her away from his chest and brushed her hair away from her face. May let out a choked laugh before wiping her face off. Finnick shook his head lightly before pulling her back into his strong chest for another hug. "I've missed you my little tadpole." He whispered into her hair.
May pulled back and smiled sadly up at him. "I've missed you more." She said before biting her lip to stop a new batch of tears from falling from her eyes. She clutched a handful of his shirt in her hand when she stepped away from his arms. He smiled sadly down at her. He wrapped his hand around her wrist and led her up to their parents. He stood there staring at his mother and father with May plastered to his side, his shirt still clutched in her tiny hands. His father nodded at him before smiling slightly over at him.
Finnick turned and faced the school. "Hello I'm Finnick, and I'm Amelia's older brother" he said as he placed his hand on top of her head, before smiling brightly at the large group of students. The girls sighed as he smiled at them and most of the boys rolled their eyes at him and the effect he had on the girls in the room. May smiled, finally honestly happy.
"What are you so happy about?" asked Finnick. May smiled up at him
"I'm just really happy you're here." She replied. He smiled down at her before putting his hand into his left pocket.
"Do you want to see what I got you?" May looked up him wide eyed before nodding her head eagerly. Finnick chuckled before pulling out his clenched fist. He spared a glance over at his parents before turning his attention back to his little sister. He opened his hand and out fell a beautiful oval golden locket; attached to the chain was a charm of a tadpole and then one of a trident.
"The tadpole is you, and the trident is me. Now I can always be with you. Wear this locket and nothing bad will ever happen to you." He promised her as he held the locket.
May looked at the locket silently before wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Aw well isn't this sweet." A voice from the door called out to the pair siblings. May left his arms and turned towards to the voice. May looked at the person standing in the doorway with her arms crossed and her face a perfect picture of hatred.
May's eyes widened and her breath quickened, she moved behind Finnick, gripping the back of his shirt tightly in her grasp. Standing there was May's worst nightmare. Standing there was the only person who knew how to break her curse. Standing there was Nerissa's daughter, Nixie.
AN: This only took me forever. Please review.