oooOOOoooOOOooo Chapter 22
In less than 15 minutes, Harry was back at the Gryffindor Common room. The pizzas, butterbeer, and ice cream were already there. All of the kids who would have otherwise been left out were having a grand old time. The Weasley twins had contributed to the chaos by loaning out their wizarding wireless for the little lions to borrow for the night. Harry grinned to see their happy faces.
The Weasley twins were waiting outside Harry's rooms with a radiant Angelina Johnson. They were dressed much like Harry, only their robes were a gaudy gold color with a red Hogwarts crest on the back while Harry's robes were a classy deep red, that was almost black, with a gold crest on the back. Angelina was dressed in a shockingly red dress with almost no back but with a flimsy gold material filling in the bare spots, providing a shimmer to her exposed dark skin.
They looked great together, despite the practically blinding nature of the twins' robes.
"Harrykins!" said George, his arm around Angelina's waist.
"Our favorite brother!" declared Fred, with his arm around Angelina's shoulders.
"Thanks for inviting us to the pre-party!" George said, with a wink.
"Though it looks like we might be missing the best party," said Fred, looking around at all the exuberant lower year students.
Neville opened the entrance to the common room, coming inside with Hannah and Susan. They were all dressed in black with yellow and gold trim. It was a nice mix of the houses.
Harry grinned at his other friends. The photographer looked like she was itching to start taking snapshots.
"Everyone ready?" Harry asked.
"As good as we can be," said Fred, grinning and bowing them all into Harry's rooms.
Harry rolled his eyes but smiled. He opened the door and held it for everyone except Moody. He insisted Harry go in first. Harry didn't complain. It felt good to have the experienced auror watching his back.
Harry led the way towards the house but the photographer stopped. She looked out over the seemingly endless sea and the gorgeous setting sun.
"Let's set up here," she said excitedly. Harry shrugged.
"Sounds good to me," he said. "Let me go get everyone else."
"Excellent," said the woman. She hurried to set up her equipment and arranged the seating for the pictures. Harry went inside to get the rest of his family.
Harry stood in the sitting room, chatting with Fleur, Bill, the Grangers, Remus, and Sirius. The girls started down the stairs and Harry's jaw almost hit the floor.
Both girls were dressed in dark red silks, though the cut of their gowns was completely different.
Hermione wore a strapless maxi-style gown with golden ruching pulled tight to the right side to expose her lower leg up to just above her knee. She wore her black basilisk hide boots with a kitten heel and carried a golden shaw. Her hair was pulled up into a chignon with small gold flowers captured in the absolutely perfect dark ringlets. Her caramel skin practically glowed against the almost black shade of red that the majority of her gown was made from. Perfect little accents of gold shone at her neck, wrist, and ankle. Long golden drop earrings with little red roses at the lobes finished off her look. Harry had to swallow hard. He glanced over at Gabrielle and felt faint.
Gabrielle wore a babydoll dress that shifted color from light to dark red, depending on the way the light struck the material. The dress came down to just below her knees. A deep v was cut in the front, with gold brocade material filling in the space between the panels and a wide glittering golden belt cinching her waist. Her black basilisk hide boots had slight heels as well. She wore her hair back with a dark red headband and beach waves. With a deep red choker with a golden rose hanging at the hollow of her throat and gold bangles on her wrists, she looked simple and stunning. Harry knew in that moment that he was the luckiest man alive.
He hurried forward to take his ladies hands and help them down the last few steps. He bowed to them, his queens, and kissed their manicured hands.
"My darlings. Hermione, Gabrielle, you take my breath away," Harry said, with stars in his eyes. Emma couldn't help herself, she snapped pictures with her mundane camera endlessly as the girls descended the stairs. She had tears in her eyes as she watched the beautiful girls blush and giggle at Harry's actions.
They took a moment to stare at each other with moon eyes. Finally, Dan laughed.
"I guess we're skipping the ball to have a mutual appreciation party?" he teased. All three teens blushed and glanced at the other people in the room. Harry was so inspired by their beauty, he wanted to drop to one knee and propose right that moment. He controlled himself. He knew their families would want to be present for such a special moment. It wouldn't be fair to cheat everyone else. Instead, he offered each girl a beautiful golden lily with red tips to the petals. He carefully pinned the corsages to their chests above their hearts, a matching corsage on his own chest.
"Let's go take your pictures so you can make it to the party on time," said Tonks, a grin on her face and a tease in her voice. Remus took her hand, kissed it, and escorted her outside. Tonks blushed as much as the young girls did.
They made it outside just as the sun was starting to lower towards the water. It was 5:30p already. The photographer hadn't wasted time. She had taken pictures of the Weasley twins and Angelina, as well as Neville, Susan, and Hannah, while they waited for Harry and his group to make their way outside. Sirius led the way as Padfoot, dancing on light puppy feet with a laugh in his puppy smile.
The photographer beamed at the lovely people descending onto the beach. Harry was pushing the buggy with his two lads in their best mundane suits that matched Dan's. Emma was wearing a drop waist dress in deep blue, to match her men. They would be heading out for their own night on the town as soon as everyone else headed out to the ball.
The photographer worked, quick and sure, arranging people all around. Everyone got a shot with their dates, individually, and as family groups. Finally, there was a massive picture of the entire group together, right as the sun slipped below the horizon, casting a golden glimmer on them all. It was a gorgeous shot.
They even convinced Moody to have his picture taken by himself and with them all.
Finally, it was a quarter until 7pm. The photographer hurried to pack up her gear and follow everyone else down to the Great Hall. Harry showed her to the anteroom and hurried back to meet up with his lady loves. McGonagall popped out of the Great Hall doors and smiled to see all nine champions lined up with their dates, ready to head inside.
"Everyone! Please, if I could have your attention," she called to all of the students and competitors crowded into the entrance hall.
Everyone turned their attention to the professor. "Thank you all for joining us for the Yule Ball. In just a moment, we'll open the doors. For your information, seating is open, except for the head table at the front of the room. Those are for the competitors, judges, school officials, and Ministry guests. Also, you should be aware, we have a professional photographer on sight. After the meal, you are welcome to line up outside the antechamber behind the head table. For three galleons, you will receive a 5x7 print each. Thank you to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Gabrielle Delacour for arranging this treat for us all."
She led the group in a round of polite applause. People started murmuring excitedly. Several students hurried back to their dorms to get their galleons. Almost 15 minutes later, the Great Hall doors opened. Harry, Hermione, and Gabrielle were at the front of the pack. Gasps and spontaneous applause broke out among the students as they looked at the beautifully decorated room. It was like something out of a winter wonderland. Ice sculptures, large christmas trees with white, glittering lights covered in snow and ice, and little drifting white clouds with candles shining soft light through the ice crystals floated around the ceiling. Tables covered in white tablecloths with blue-light candles and small flower arrangements with white and blue flowers filled the room. It was gorgeous.
Harry, Hermione, and Gabrielle made their way up to the head table and took seats as far away from Dolores Umbridge as they could get. Unfortunately, this put them right beside Percy but they decided this was the lesser of two evils.
"Hello Percy," Harry said, taking the hit and sitting beside the pompous arse. Thankfully, Harry was on Percy's good list because of the invite to the French Minister of Magic's New Year's Eve Ball.
"Harry Potter, what a pleasant surprise. Good to see you, chap," said Percy, pumping Harry's hand. The Minister had been singing Harry's praises all over the Ministry for the last few hours. He was suddenly on the Minister's favorites list. Percy wasn't sure how he'd managed it but he hoped to bask in the reflected good light.
"Er, good to see you, too, Percy," Harry said, a little uncomfortably.
The meal was soon served. Harry spent about half of the delicious meal chatting with his beautiful ladies and the other half listening to Percy drone on about his job and his important role as the Minister's ambassador tonight. Percy was filling in for Madam Umbridge, as the Junior Undersecretary, while she acted as judge for the Triwizard Tournament.
As dessert was served, Percy leaned over and spoke quietly to Harry, "Nasty business with Ronald today. He barely missed a trip before the Wizengamot. I have to thank you for not painting the rest of us with the same brush. We Weasleys are stalwart supporters for the protection of magical children."
Harry scowled and grunted in reply. "Of course, Ginevra is doing much better. She's home for the holidays. She'll be going back to Saint Mungo's tomorrow afternoon. She seems to have come to her senses. She literally beat Ron bloody when she learned what he'd been up to. Good medication and decent Healers have helped her release many of her delusions. They expect she'll be able to return to school next semester," said Percy, in a conspiratorial tone.
Harry let his scowl lighten somewhat. He hoped Ginny really was doing better. Harry didn't wish her ill. He just didn't want her fawning over him or attacking Hermione and Gabrielle again.
"Of course, Dad's asked the twins to keep an eye on her, if she does return. Best not to take any chances. The Weasley family name can't take many more hits without permanently damaging our reputation. Thank you for thinking of the rest of us when you decided not to press charges against Ronald," said the pompous man in a sincere voice. Harry rolled his eyes but answered Percy.
"No problem, Percy. I consider the Weasleys to be family, despite everything that's happened." Percy patted Harry's shoulder and turned back to McGonagall on his other side. Harry watched the arse for a moment then shook his head. If even Percy could appreciate Harry's unintended kindness, Harry supposed he could let it go. Ron wouldn't be coming back to Hogwarts and hopefully Ginny wouldn't be a problem anymore.
As dessert was cleared away, Dumbledore stood and called everyone to attention.
"Thank you all for joining us for a fine Triwizard Tournament tradition, the Yule Ball. We appreciate each and every one of you that chose to stay with us at Hogwarts during this holiday season. We hope you've found the warmth of friendship and camaraderie to replace the love of home and hearth. Please, stand and join me as we open the dance floor. Step back against the walls for just a moment," Dumbledore said, holding his perfectly healthy arms up into the sky. Harry caught McGonagall smiling at the sight while Dolores Umbridge frowned.
The tables disappeared while rows of chairs lined the hall, facing the center of the room. Harry swallowed thickly, feeling a little sick as Dumbledore continued to speak.
"Champions? Please take to the center of the floor and open the dancing, if you would," Dumbledore said with his eyes twinkling.
Several couples and two thrupples took to the dance floor. Harry heard the loud, obnoxious voice of Madam Umbridge break the silence.
"This embarrassment cannot be allowed to continue. Only dancing pairs should be allowed on the floor. It's bad enough that we have one beast parading as a person creating an embarrassment on the floor. I will not allow two," she practically shouted in the still air, as everyone waited for the dancing to begin. She tried to stand up and hurry around the head table, the only table to remain in place, to cause a further scene. Harry's face flushed with anger as Gabrielle and Fleur's faces flushed with embarrassment. Harry prepared to open his mouth and add to the scene when Umbridge created more chaos all on her own.
First, her bottom was stuck to her chair. As she opened her fat mouth to complain about the mistreatment, a loud burp echoed around the room. It ripped the silence and caused a cloud of stench to float about. Students and professors gagged at the smell. She tried to open her mouth to scream when a loud fart ripped through the air. People started to turn green when the scents collided. Umbridge waved her wand and stood. A large brown stain was filling her backside. She opened her mouth to shriek curses on everyone who was staring at her and laughing but another loud belch ripped from her guts instead. She tried to hurry and leave the room but another fart ripped through the air. Little brown flecks oozed down her legs.
She managed a scream but the end of the scream was another loud stuttering belch. Little flecks of vomit flicked out of her mouth. The professors started casting air clearing charms around the room and around the stinking ministry official. Another loud fart ripped the air and a stream of brown goo fell to the ground.
Students laughed, retched, and screamed at the scene the disgusting woman was making. Umbridge waddled as fast as her full pants would allow for. She ran through the antechamber just as another loud fart rend the air. They all heard the wet splatters hitting the floor and saw the flashbulb of the photographer's camera go off.
"Destroy that picture!" shrieked the embarrassed woman as the entire Great Hall full of people laughed at her. She screamed in frustration and ran from the room. Harry promised himself he'd offer the photographer 20 galleons if she'd sell him a 14x11 of that picture. He bet he wouldn't be the only one if the looks of triumph on the Weasley twins' faces were anything to go by.
The professors cast a few cleaning charms and air clearing charms before Dumbledore stood again with twinkling eyes. "As I was saying, Champions and your dates, however many you happen to be lucky enough to have, please open the dancing."
Harry was grinning when he turned back to Hermione and Gabrielle. The girls' eyes were glittering with mirth as the sound of a waltz started to fill the room. Harry sighed. They had practiced a triad dance for this one.
Harry did a few dance steps, bowed to each lady while his feet kept moving. They curtsied in return and took hands, lifting their combined hands into the air. Harry did a fancy turn, moving in a figure 8 pattern around both girls while they slowly waltzed with each other. He took each of their hands and let them do a twisting turn around him and each other. Harry kept all three of their hands aloft and together as they moved through the slightly modified waltz steps. Harry grinned as each girl stepped back. He bowed as they curtsied. Harry did a spinning step that kept him facing both girls at once while they moved in a fast step around Harry. Harry grinned and touched their outward facing hands, spinning them both into his chest and out again. They repeated the moves one more time before the song ended. It was kind of beautiful.
Harry caught a glimpse of the twins doing a very similar dance with Angelina while Fleur and Bill and Viktor and Lavender Brown did a picture perfect two person waltz. All of the other teenage champions were outclassed by the people who had obviously practiced with professionals. The photographer didn't waste a moment. She moved around the dance floor capturing everyone. As a faster reel with a two-step pattern started, the professors joined the Champions on the floor. Harry actually had so much fun with this triad dance, he found himself laughing while his girls giggled and flitted about, curling into and out of his reach as their turn to promenade came and went.
By the start of the third song, several students joined in on the dancing. A quick footed slightly sexy tango was the fourth song. Harry saw a blushing and grinning Neville work the floor with his two girls, not that Harry could pay attention for long, his own sexy ladies were at his back and his front, keeping him spinning towards one or the other as they moved through the risque moves.
After the fifth song, Harry decided to take a break. He took his ladies over to grab some punch and relax for a song before they were back at it, this time taking turns dancing as two person couples, first with Harry and Hermione, then with Harry and Gabrielle, and finally a titillating rumba with Hermione and Gabrielle. Several couples stopped to watch the beautiful girls dancing together. They were very good dancers.
Madam Umbridge returned to the ball in a fresh outfit. She marched right up to Harry, as if he was the person who caused her to shite herself in public. He wasn't, not that it mattered to her.
"I'll be seeing you on Monday. I'm going to see that you're investigated and those brats are taken away from you. I'll make sure they go to separate homes where proper discipline will be applied. You'll never see them again," she spat. Harry just smirked.
"Think I'm kidding, do you? I'll have the Minister see to it personally," said the ugly woman.
"Dobby, bring me a copy of the paperwork from the Minister. Not the originals. Bring a copy of the receipt for the filing, too," said Harry calmly.
A small stack of papers appeared before Harry. He glanced at them and handed two to Umbridge.
"What's this tripe?" she spat, angrily. She read the documents and her mouth literally fell open.
"These are forgeries," she shrieked.
"Test them," Harry said, glittering malice in his eyes and laughter on his face.
The witch pulled out her wand and slapped it to the papers. She screamed between her teeth.
"That's right, Madam. I've already been investigated by the Department of Wizarding Family Services. As you can see, I passed with flying colors. The Minister was glad to sign off on the results himself. To think, all it took was a small campaign donation and it was done," said Harry airly.
"You paid the Minister off!" she spat. Harry grinned.
"Tisk, tisk, Madam. Are you saying the Minister can be bought? Why, I might just tell him you said so. Or maybe I'll tell Rita Skeeter. She's sitting right over there," said Harry. The witch whipped her head around. Sure enough, Rita Skeeter and her photographer were slipping around the room, taking quotes and pictures with wild abandon.
Umbridge swallowed, hard. The Minister would not appreciate such a quote showing up in the papers, especially not with her name next to it. Of course, it was true, but that never stopped a politician from ruining the person who said it.
She slapped the papers back onto the table, gave Harry a venomous look and stalked away. Harry grinned and turned to Colin Creevy who had been listening to the whole thing.
"Hey Colin, will you do me a favor?"
"Anything," said the breathless boy.
"Take these papers over to that woman in the acid green glasses. See her?"
"Yes, Harry, I do," said the boy, like he was declaring a solemn oath.
"Give her this," Harry said, pulling an extra 5,000 galleons from his pocket. It was all the cash he had left on him. "Make sure you buy a copy of that picture of Umbridge from the photographer first. Take that to the reporter as well. Just give it all to her and tell her what you've seen of my parenting? Could you? Oh, and buy me a copy of that picture, too, please?"
Colin giggled and took the stuff. Harry watched him practically run to the photography line. A couple of people grumbled when Colin cut to the front of the line but Harry knew the boy would be quick. Harry laughed quietly to himself and hoped the picture made the front page.
He would be delighted when his wish came true.