Chapter 37

The Yule Ball

As Lily and the group reached the great hall, she heard gasps from everyone waiting there for their dates. She saw Ginny, looking resplendent in a light blue dress, her hair framing her face, and smiling at Lily. Some of the boys were wolf whistling at Lily, who blushed.

"You look so beautiful," Ginny complimented, as she approached Lily.

"So do you," Lily replied, blushing as she smiled, leaning in and kissing Ginny softly. As their lips touched, Lily felt the same spark she had done for their first kiss, something she loved. Every kiss with Ginny felt amazing, and as the kiss broke, Lily became aware of someone standing nearby.

"I have to admit, when mother told me the two of you were dating, I was glad to hear it," Percy said, looking at Lily and Ginny. "Everyone has said how happy you've both been."

"Thank you, Percy," Lily beamed. "Ginny makes me happy. What brings you by? Just for the ball?"

"I'm here in place of Mr. Crouch. I'm now his Executive Assistant, and he's tasked me with so much within the office," Percy said proudly. Lily hugged Percy.

"Congratulations Percy, you deserve this. I know Fred and George like to make fun, but after all the effort you've put in, this is deserved," Lily complimented. Percy blushed a little, smiling.

"Thank you, Lily, I appreciate that," Percy told her. "Are you waiting for the others?"

"Not anymore," Lily nodded to the staircase as Ron, Fred, George, Cedric, and Roger Davis came down, with Fleur and Krum joining the group.

"You look beautiful, Her… Hermi… Hermione," Krum complimented, struggling a little with her name. Hermione smiled at him.

"You're going with Krum?" Ron asked, his eyes widening. He looked at Krum, narrowing his eyes. "She's one of my best friends, don't hurt her or upset her, and I won't get mad."

"Hermione," he started, his pronunciation better, "has said how good a friend you are. I am glad she has such good friends," Krum told him. "I vill never hurt her; I promise."

"That was sweet of you Ron," Lily heard Hermione whisper. Lily smiled at Ron as the group walked to the great hall, passing Malfoy and Parkinson, both of whom looked stunned as they saw Lily, and Hermione with Krum. They couldn't even get a bad word out of their mouths.

As they entered the hall, Lily, Ginny, Krum, Hermione, Fleur, Roger, Cedric, and Cho were led towards the top table, along with Percy who would be sitting with them.

The meal was the most incredible feast Lily had ever experienced. The foods were from all around the world, and she tried a few different items, some recommended by Fleur, and some by Viktor and Hermione.

"I understand you've become quite a figurehead, Miss Potter," Dumbledore said, smiling at her. "You've become the new face for Rita Skeeter's campaign to help promote understanding between the… what was the term again?" he asked.

"The LGBT+ Community," Minerva finished for him. Lily blushed.

"I just… I hated how I felt trapped, and no one should feel forced to hide who they are," Lily said. Dumbledore nodded.

"Quite right too," he agreed, with his usual, charming smile. "I hope this takes off well for you; I have also had someone ask about talking with you, nervous about making themselves known, so perhaps, in three days, after you are quite recovered from this amazing evening, you could join me in my office at about noon?"

"I'd be happy to, Professor," Lily agreed, smiling and blushing. She looked out at the crowd of students, curious as to who wanted to meet with her, and smiled again as she saw Rita at a table, speaking with a couple of men whom Lily guessed were her photographers.

As the meal came to an end, the dancing began, with the champions and their partners starting the dance. Lily took Ginny's hand and looked into her eyes.

"Do you want to lead, or shall I?" Lily asked.

"Oh, I'm taking charge," Ginny teased with a small smile, as the romantic music began. Lily followed Ginny's lead, their eyes never parting as they moved deftly across the dance floor, with Ginny even spinning Lily at one point. She grinned at Ginny, who returned the grin.

"You're really good at this," Lily told her.

"Well, it took a lot of practice, and Cedric helped," Ginny explained. "I wanted this to be an amazing night."

"It already is, just because I'm here with you," Lily replied. "I just… I never thought I'd be here, feeling so happy like this."

"I'm glad you feel like that, I want you to be happy," Ginny said. "I have to admit, I was worried when I told you how I felt, I didn't want to lose you as a friend, but I… I thought I'd be… well, not worthy of dating you."

"Why?" Lily asked, confused. "Ginny, you're amazing, and sweet, and kind. You care for so many people, and I'm proud of how well you're doing this year as well. You've easily become the best student in your year, and even Uncle Sirius and Remus told me how amazing you're coming along. They're both impressed with your skills."

"I've been watching Hermione and getting tips from her," Ginny said, as the song began to end, with another starting, this time with more people coming out onto the dance floor.

"Looks like it's been working then," Lily said, still smiling. "Ginny, can I ask you something?"

"Anything," Ginny agreed.

"Do you want to go for lunch together, just the two of us, on our next Hogsmeade weekend?" Lily asked. Ginny nodded.

"I'd love that," she smiled and leant in, kissing Lily softly.

After the few romantic songs, the music changed to something much livelier, with everyone joining in and getting excited. After a couple of dances, Lily needed a break, and some fresh air, so she and Ginny decided to go for a walk outside of the castle together.

"I don't know who it is, but if I can help them," Lily said, taking in the freshness of the night air as she heard the gentle squelch of the mud underneath her shoes, thankful for the impervious charm Ginny had cast on their shoes so they wouldn't get muddy.

"That's just who you are, Lily. You care, and you want to make a difference," Ginny replied.

"I just do what Uncle Sirius taught me to do. When I was growing up, I wanted to know what happened to my parents, and he told me they were killed by a bad man, but he left it at that. I figured it hurt too much to talk about it, so I tried to do some research at the local library, but all I found was a report that they had been killed at their home in Godric's Hollow, and that was all that was known," Lily explained.

"I can't imagine how that felt for you," Ginny held Lily's hand kindly as they walked. "I was lucky to have mum and dad with me all the time growing up, and sure, we weren't ever rich, but we had everything we needed. I was born nearly two months before your parents died, and when I was a little older, mum told me that they had been thinking of running away."

"Because of Voldemort," Lily didn't ask a question, it was a statement, to which Ginny nodded in confirmation.

"Mum lost her two brothers, Gideon and Fabian, thanks to You… Vol… Vold…" Ginny winced, trying to force herself to say the name.

"You don't need to say it Ginny," Lily told her softly. Ginny looked at her.

"His name's always been taboo, and everyone's scared to even say it, but you… you've never flinched, you've just said it, because you've never let him scare you," Ginny explained.

"I never grew up knowing the name, or about the fact that people feared it. When I found out, I guess it never occurred to me to be afraid," Lily shrugged.

"Well, Vol… Voldemort… he scared everyone," Ginny said, looking shocked at saying the name. "I did it!"

"You really are one of the most amazing people I know, Ginny," Lily complimented. She took a breath. "I've never understood the idea of being afraid of a name. I mean, him, maybe. Fear is healthy I think, because it keeps you alert and active, and means you're careful. Voldemort's name is just that, a name, a word."

"You're not wrong," Ginny agreed. "When Voldemort tried to take my body over, I just… I remember thinking, before everything went black, that I wanted you to be there, and somehow, I knew you'd save me. I don't know how I knew it, but I could feel it, that you and Ron would both be there."

"Voldemort would never keep us away. I know people think Ron can be scared of a lot. I mean, spiders terrify him, but he faced down Voldemort without hesitation. His one thought was saving you. If we had told Fred and George, and Percy, about where you were, they'd have been there in an instant. Your family will do anything for each other," Lily told her. "Your family is one to be proud of."

"I am, and I know they see you, Sirius, and Remus as part of the family too. Dad loves talking to Sirius about muggle gadgets, and Sirius indulges him, too much if you ask Mum and Remus," Ginny laughed as she spoke. "I know one thing for sure; Dad's gonna want more games consoles, he got a Super Nintendo and a Game Boy and tried to combine them into one."

"How did that work out?" Lily asked, giggling at the thought of it.

"Well, there's a reason Mum won't let him do anything in the house. He almost blew up his shed," Ginny laughed aloud as she spoke, struggling to get the words out.

"That… doesn't… surprise… me," Lily was also laughing, getting each word out with difficulty. As they stopped laughing, they smiled at each other, the cloudless sky letting the moon shine down on them.

"Oh, I needed a laugh," Lily said, smiling at her girlfriend. Even thinking of that word brought a smile to Lily's face. "Ever since coming here, I've felt like I found where I belong."

"Right now, you belong here, with me," Ginny said, before kissing Lily. "It's strange, but ever since we started dating, I've been feeling more… confident, I guess, about some things at least. I'm still scared of the next task, and the rest of the year, but somehow, I feel like… we're connected somehow, and it's giving me strength, if that makes sense?"

"It does," Lily agreed. "I've felt the same way, but I can't explain it. Maybe it's a magic thing?"

"It's not something I've heard of, but it's worth looking into," Ginny's thumb gently rubbed against Lily's hand as they held hands, walking. "I mean, so much of this is new. I feel… better, and I can feel myself getting stronger inside."

"Maybe it's the excitement of the night, but honestly, if we are getting stronger because we're together, then I hope we never part," Lily told her. Ginny nodded, smiling.

"Not gonna disagree with you," Ginny agreed. "Tonight was… incredible, wasn't it?"

"More than," Lily smiled. "Ron and Lavender seem to be enjoying being a couple, so do Parvati and Neville, but… I just… I wonder about Hermione."

"How so?" Ginny asked, nearing a bush where they heard giggling. They turned away, avoiding the bush as to give whoever was hiding privacy.

"She was happy to be at the dance with Krum, but… she doesn't seem overly thrilled. I don't know if I'm misreading things, but it felt like she was… settling, I think the word is?" Lily asked.

"Like she wants to be with someone else? But who? Ron?" Ginny asked.

"No, those two are only friends, I think they feel more like brother and sister to each other. I'm not sure who, but I do hope Hermione figures out what, or rather who, she wants," Lily replied.

"We could talk to her about it," Ginny suggested. Lily shook her head.

"Probably not a good idea. As much as I want to, I wouldn't know how to approach the subject, and I think she'll speak to us when she's ready," Lily said, smiling softly at Ginny.

"You thought more about the egg yet?" Ginny asked, changing the subject.

"I've been trying, but the only thing I know is that I don't understand what the noise is," Lily said. Ginny frowned.

"You know, in class the other day, Moody was telling us about how Voldemort's followers would use different languages and codes to pass on messages, and sometimes the language wouldn't sound like anything but noise to those who didn't know it," Ginny said. Lily looked at her as they found a bench, seeing Madam Maxime and Hagrid walking a short distance away.

"They look happy, don't they?" Lily asked. She frowned as she thought of what Ginny had said. "What kind of code could it be? Or what language. I've never heard of… of…" Lily's voice trailed off as she thought of something. She looked up, seeing Rita standing near the entrance. "Rita!" Lily exclaimed.

"Lily, darling, and Ginny, how lovely to see you both. I was wondering if I'd get a chance to speak to you both tonight," Rita said, smiling as she approached them.

"Did you get my last set of diary entries?" Lily asked. Rita beamed at her.

"I did, and they're amazing. The way you describe the feelings you experience, the way you show how to express them… have you been reading my column?" Rita asked. Lily and Ginny both nodded.

"We never miss it. I love reading it," Ginny exclaimed. "It helped me find the courage I needed to come out as a lesbian."

"I'm so happy to hear that sweetheart, and I'm glad you're both happy," Rita said. "I can promise you one thing; you've already helped more people than you know."

"Rita, you travel a lot, don't you?" Lily asked. Rita nodded.

"A good reporter has to be ready to go anywhere for a scoop," Rita confirmed.

"So do you know much about languages?" Lily asked. Ginny grinned, and Lily knew she already saw where she was going with the question.

"I know quite a few, although I do use a translation spell some of the time. You have something you need translating?" Rita asked.

"Maybe," Lily agreed, standing up. She led Ginny and Rita towards the Gryffindor Common Room, asking them to wait outside as she ran in and got her egg. She returned a moment later and led the two to an empty room.

"Your golden egg? Is it in another language?" Rita asked.

"Maybe, it sounds like wailing to us, but Ginny suggested it could be a language or code we don't understand." Lily said. Rita nodded.

"Alright, open it and let's hear it," she said. Lily opened the egg and winced as she heard the wailing, while Ginny covered her ears. Rita quickly pulled out her wand, put the egg on the floor and cast a spell, covering it in a ball of water. The wailing stopped and sounded more like a strange melody.

"What the…" Lily exclaimed. Rita smiled.

"You were right, Ginny. That's Mermish, the language of the Mer People. Above water, it's… well, you heard it. You need to have your head within the water to hear it. I can help you with that," Rita said, using her magic to lift the egg, and the ball of water, up. She then cast a spell on all three of them, and within seconds, they each had what looked like a bubble over their heads.

"This is… weird," Lily said.

"It's the Bubble Head Charm, meant to help someone breathe underwater by giving them a bubble of air," Rita said. "You might want to learn this spell as soon as you can, and keep practising," she added, as she increased the size of the water ball until their heads were covered by it, but only their heads, keeping them all dry.

"Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground. An hour long you'll have to look, to recover what we took."

The song from the egg puzzled Lily and Ginny as they listened to it twice more before they pulled out of the water, with Rita dispelling the water and closing the egg.

"Come seek us where our voices sound… you'll have to go underwater," Rita mused.

"The Great Lake, most likely then," Lily surmised.

"An hour long you'll have to look…" Ginny mused. "Something from each champion is going to be taken, and you need to get it back from them?"

"Within an hour," Rita agreed. "I'm not sure what will be taken, but it'll be something important, given how it's meant to be recovered quickly."

"Makes sense," Lily frowned as she pursed her lips. "I'm just worried about what it will be."

"We'll find out, but right now, we know what you need to do," Ginny said. "Thank you so much Rita."

"It's been my pleasure Ginny," Rita said, smiling at them. "I'd love to sit down with you sometime Ginny and talk about your experiences about coming out as a lesbian."

"I'd be happy to," Ginny said, trying to fight a yawn.

"It's almost one, you two should go and get some sleep," Rita said, handing the egg to Lily.

"Thank you so much for your help," Lily said, hugging Rita.

"Anytime, Lily. You have a way of bringing the best out in people, and I'm glad that I know you," Rita told her, with a smile. Lily felt happy to have Rita as a friend, and Ginny as a girlfriend, and as she and Ginny left and headed to the Gryffindor to sleep, she hoped that whatever was going to be taken, she would get it back. Her mind was racing as she silently prayed that it wouldn't be her necklace or her Femininus Draught, but whatever it was, she made a promise that she'd never give up, no matter what.