Chapter Twenty Nine
"Right, into a line if you please. Oldest to youngest please, so Mr Krum you first first, then Mr Diggory, Mademoiselle Delacour and then you Mr Potter." Professor McGonagall said, giving Harry a small nudge into place, "Champions on the left please."
Daphne took her place on Harry's right and held out her arm.
"I'm so glad that you're good at this." Harry grinned.
Daphne gave a little laugh before controlling herself for the entrance. She was very proud of Hermione who was standing, matching Krum perfectly at the front, head still held high. They looked like the perfect match couple, the king and queen with their ladies and gentlemen in waiting behind them.
The large doors opened and Filch stood proudly in his mouldy tail coat, "Introducing the champions of the 1994 Triwizard Tournament!" he shouted.
The students clamped as they walked through the hall. Gone were the long house tables that normally filled the Hall, replaced with lots of smaller, candle lit tables that each seated about a dozen.
Harry kept his head straight, praying that he didn't trip up in front of everyone and walked towards the top table.
There, Dumbledore was sitting smiling at all of them. Ludo Bagman was sitting next to him wearing vivid robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, clapping madly with the other students. Karkaroff was glaring at Viktor and Hermione, Harry didn't think for a second that someone like Karkaroff would be happy with a muggleborn student stepping out with any Durmstrang student, let alone his precious favourite.
Madam Maxime had changed her normal black robes for ones of light lavender silk. Mr Crouch, Harry spotted, wasn't there. Instead his seat was taken by Percy Weasley. As the champions reached the table, Percy drew out the seat next to him and pointedly looked at Harry, he took the hint and stood behind the chair next to Percy, Daphne to his left.
There was a final burst of applause before the hall settled down and the champions took their seats. Harry pulled out Daphne's chair and tucked it in for her.
"I've been promoted." Percy said, rather pompously, smoothing his brand new navy-blue dress robes.
"Well done." Harry said politely, turning to Daphne, hoping to avoid a lecture.
"I am now Mr Crouch's personal assistant, and of course I am here representing him." Percy said.
"Why couldn't he come?" Daphne asked.
Percy sighed, "I am afraid to say that Mr Crouch isn't very well. Hasn't been right since the World Cup. Hardly surprising… overwork you see. He's not as young as he once was… oh he's still quite brilliant, his mind remains as quick as ever. But the whole fiasco over the World Cup effected the whole Ministry, although it was hardly his fault. And then he suffered the huge personal loss of his house elf, Blinky or whatever her name was, of course he dismissed her straight away but it was still a huge embarrassment and, dare I say, he needs looking after. He'd found a huge drop in home comforts since she left. And then with the Tournament to arrange and that horrible Skeeter woman buzzing around! No, poor man, he's having a well deserved Christmas at home. I'm just glad he knew he had someone trusted, relied on, to take his place for him."
Harry was afraid to say anything unless it started another long speech. He thought asking if Mr Crouch had stopped calling him Weatherby would be a bit mean, definitely something his mother would frown at him for, no matter how tempting it was.
The glittering golden plates in front of them were still empty of food, just a small menu sat neatly at each place.
Dumbledore picked up his menu and looked it over for a moment before looking at his plate,
"Pork Chop." he said clearly.
A large plate of pork chops appeared before him and the rest of the Hall got the idea. Harry looked over his own menu, his mother would be making them a full Christmas dinner at Easter, when he went home, so he wasn't sure he wanted one now.
He decided on goulash, Kreacher had made it a few times and it was perfect for a cold winter's night. Daphne picked a dish of pasta with a tomato and herb sauce, complete with a generous sprinkling of cheese.
Hermione was lost in conversation with Viktor, seemingly barely paying any attention to what she was eating. He seemed to be telling her about Durmstrang and it's traditions.
"Now, now Viktor, let's not tell them too much, we don't want to give away our location." Karkaroff said, there was an edge of firmness in his voice.
Dumbledore chuckled, "Igor! Why so secretive, you'd think you didn't want visitors."
Karkaroff smiled broadly, showing a lot of yellow teeth, "Well Dumbledore, we are all protective of our schools? Do we not guard our sacred halls with jealousy? That we alone need know all the secrets of our ancient school?"
Dumbledore smiled pleasantly, "Oh I would never dream of thinking I know all of Hogwarts' many secrets. Only this morning I took a wrong turn and found myself in a rather lovely room, filled with all manor of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate in more detail, it had completely vanished. Possibly it is only available at half five in the morning, or when you have a full bladder or at the quarter moon..."
Harry choked back a laugh, Percy frowned at him but didn't say anything about Harry's terrible rudeness. Fleur was sitting politely, picking at her food while Roger Davies stared at her with nothing but adoration.
"Zis is nothing." she said, rather dismissively while looking around the Hall, "At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze Dinning Chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course… zey are like 'uge statues of dimond, gilltering around ze place."
"That sounds lovely." Roger said, barely blinking.
Fleur swished her silvery hair and nodded, "Oh, it iz. And ze food is seemply superb. And we 'ave choirs of wood-nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we wat. 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.
"How are you doing?" Daphne said, quietly.
Harry nodded, "I'm fine."
"This is a rather nice feast." Percy said, "I often say that Hogwarts has gone down hill a little, even over the years I was here but thanks to Mr Crouch they do seem to have put on a good show."
Harry gritted his teeth to stop himself from rolling his eyes,
"Yes, I think everyone thinks school was better when they were young, it's when you get old that you to look back at things with rose coloured glassed." Daphne said sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes at Percy.
He glared at her before turning away to speak to Dumbledore. Harry grinned at Daphne and mouthed a thank you.
Once everyone had finished eating, Dumbledore rose and gestured for everyone else to go the same. Harry, and the rest of the students stood up. Dumbledore, with a wave of his wand, sent the tables whizzing against the walls, leaving the floor clear for dancing.
The Weird Sisters started up a slow and slightly mournful tune as the champions and their partners walked onto the dance floor.
Harry carefully placed his hand on Daphne's waist, the other one in Daphne's hand, and waited for the tune to start properly. Daphne counted him in and helped lead him around the dance floor, Harry highly suspected that they'd been giving Hermione dance lessons as well for how easily she moved around the room with Viktor.
"Ouch," Daphne hissed, "Harry concentrate, that was my toe!"
Harry focused back on his dancing, "Sorry Daphne."
It wasn't long before Dumbledore lead Madam Maxime onto the dance floor, signalling to the other students that they could join in the dance. Neville twirled Luna onto the dance floor, although she seemed rather unfocused on the dancing, at least dancing the way everyone else wanted her too.
The dance ended and Harry bowed slightly to Daphne and grinned. Daphne gave him a graceful curtsy,
"Well done, I'll give you three out of ten? Maybe a four?" Daphne smirked.
Harry stuck his tongue out at her, "I wasn't that bad!"
Daphne laughed and went to the side of the dance floor to find their friends. The Weird Sisters had started playing a far more upbeat tune, which many of the students stayed to dance too.
Hermione seemed to be loving being spun around by Viktor and was laughing and smiling at him.
"Well done Harry." Pansy said, walking over.
"Still think you dance better with me." Draco smirked, pulling out a chair for Pansy.
Ron was sitting a few tables over, Parvati was clearly asking him to dance but he kept shrugging her off, glaring at Krum and Hermione.
"I don't know what his issue is." Daphne hissed, sitting down next to Pansy.
"You should have heard him ask Hermione out." Pansy said, shaking her head, "It was disgusting."
"Hermione seemed to get asked out loads." Draco mused, "Neville asked her out as well."
"She looks so pretty up there." Harry smiled, "She really suits Viktor."
Daphne nodded, apart from the other Durmstrang students, Viktor and Hermione were the only ones wearing red, they stood out like a pair of red roses in a white bouquet. Daphne and Pansy both dragged Harry up to dance, as well as a very pretty student from Beauxbatons with long dark hair.
After a dozen or so dances they were all tired and went to sit down.
"Vould you mind if ve joined you?" Viktor asked.
Pansy shook her head and smiled, shuffling up a seat, "Are you having fun?"
Hermione nodded, her face flushed from all the dancing, "Yes very much."
Viktor, Harry and Draco returned with drinks for them all and sat down. It wasn't long before Neville wondered over as well. Luna was dancing happily with a student from Beauxbatons.
"We're very lucky, really." Neville mused, "I mean we've gotten to wear any colours we want, purple really isn't my colour."
Harry grinned and nodded, "It's not as dignified as red or blue for us guys is it?"
Draco shook his head and sniggered. Ron was still glaring at them when Brigitta wondered over, wearing a white dress with dark red embroidery.
"You promised me a dance. If it is all right vith Miss Granger." Brigitta asked.
Hermione nodded, "Yes of course."
Viktor stood and kissed Hermione's hand before taking Brigitta onto the dance floor. Ron saw him leave and glared. Hermione wondered over to the drinks table to fill her glass with punch.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ron snapped at her.
Hermione turned round, surprised at him sneaking up on her.
"What? Oh I'm just getting a drink. Don't worry there is plenty left." Hermione smiled.
Ron snorted, "I didn't mean that. I mean… this." he gestured to all of her.
Hermione shook her head in confusion.
"This!" Ron said getting angrier, "You're flirting with the enemy! You're meant to be Harry's friend."
Hermione gasped, "Ron what are you talking about?"
"Krum! He's on the other side. Goodness knows what you've been telling him! He's going to use it all against Harry!" Ron snapped.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Oh Ronald. For one, Harry knows about me seeing Viktor and he doesn't care. For two we don't talk about Harry, at all in fact and three it is none of your business who I see or don't see!"
Ron snorted, "Oh yeah?"
"Yes." Hermione went to leave but Ron caught her arm, "Let go of me."
Ron let go. Pansy and Daphne heard the noise and walked over.
"Is everything all right Hermione?" Pansy asked.
"We were wondering what was taking so long." Daphne smiled, "Hello Ronald."
Ron glared at them, "She's fine."
"I'm leaving." Hermione said.
"Tramp." Ron spat at her, "Look at you! All dressed up like a harlot spilling all Harry's secrets onto Viktor's pillow."
Ron felt Pansy's hand collied with the side of his face before he'd even seen her move.
"How dare you?!" Pansy hissed, rubbing her now stinging palm, "You should be ashamed of yourself, talking to a lady like that."
Ron rubbed his face, "Sorry, don't see any ladies."
"Then get some glasses." Daphne told him, flicking her long hair at him and walking away, "Are you OK Hermione?"
Hermione nodded and wiped her eyes, "Is that really the way people see me?"
"No." Daphne said, "It's how one pathetic, jealous, idiot sees you. Don't let it get to you."
Pansy nodded in agreement but she knew that whatever anyone said now, Ron had marred the evening for Hermione which just made her want to hit him again. Viktor came over quickly to make sure that Hermione was OK and lead her off to dance.
"What did Ron want?" Draco said with a large level of disgust.
Pansy glared at where Ron was still nursing his face, glaring at Hermione who was dancing again with Viktor, "He had a go at Hermione. 'Fraternising with the enemy'."
Harry rolled his eyes, "He knows we sit with Viktor nearly every day for meals right?"
"I think that thinking might be above Weasley's abilities." Pansy said, smirking.
"Did I hear someone say my name? Harry?" Percy said, walking over, self-importantly.
"We were just talking about your brothers disgusting behaviour." Draco said, smiling.
Percy frowned and was about to say something, "Oh I see what you mean. Thank you for telling me Malfoy, what are they thinking bothering a high level Ministry official? I would prefer you came to me quietly next time, follows social protocol a little better you see."
Percy swept off before Draco could say anything else to go and reprimand Fred and George who were talking to Ludo Bagman.
"Well that told you." Harry said, "Must follow all those social protocols. You know, things that a Weasley would know but not a Malfoy…"
"Do you think we should tell him it wasn't Fred and George we were talking about?" Daphne asked, taking a seat.
Harry smirked, "No. He can find out by himself."
Daphne dragged him up to dance again, Harry knew that The Weird Sisters was her favourite band and couldn't deny her a few dances.
"Pansy, Luna and I are heading to the ladies." Daphne told Harry.
He nodded, "Ok. We'll meet you outside, it's very hot in here."
Daphne nodded and disappeared into the crowd.