"So the Malfoys serve you-know-who," Minister Minchum said, stroking his beard, "and are trusted enough to guard a shard of his soul. That doesn't bode well for the future."
"I agree," Mad-Eye Moody nodded, "but hopefully Potter has it handled."
"Anthe!" Callie Potter jumped into her cousin's arms, "you're here!"
"I am," Iola smiled, "it was very nice of Lily to help us all get ready in her rooms."
"My treat," Lily said, bringing some products out, "although you all are very lucky Sirius took you dress shopping. I may have many talents, but fashion isn't one of them."
"Seems like all your dramatics paid off," Peter teased Sirius, "you're a known fashionista."
"It's not dramatic to look good," Sirius huffed, crossing his arms, "and I am not dramatic." Stifled giggles were heard. Sirius Black was most definitely dramatic.
"We know," Susan said, rollers in her hair, "Mal's wedding is a testament to that."
"That wasn't my fault," Lily scowled, "the designer messed up."
"That's not what Remus said," Iola laughed, "but it's irrelevant. Now we just have to get ready."
"Wow," Benjy said, walking in an hour later, "I am very glad I am not a girl. That dress looks extremely uncomfortable."
"Zip it," Callie scowled, "don't give unnecessary feedback." Callie's dress was a stunning navy. It glittered like the stars, and had lovely flowers all around.
"Oh look at her," Dorcas gushed, "she's so beautiful. I wonder if Neville's going to match her."
"I would hope so," Alice said sternly, "it's the polite thing to do."
"I wonder who Susan is going with," Edgar whispered to his sister, "Iola didn't mention her earlier."
"She probably didn't have a date yet," Amelia whispered back, "and that's not important anyways."
"You look far too much like Mum when you scowl," Benjy says intelligently, "your face wrinkles up like this." Benjy demonstrated a rather crude impression of his sister.
"Why you lit-" Callie would have finished the statement if Iola hadn't waltzed in to interrupt. Dressed in a pale yellow, Iola's dress was adorned with a lovely gold belt.
"She looks so much like you," Euphemia spoke softly to her future son-in-law, "it's unsettling."
"She does," Benjy agreed, "I'd go far enough to say she looks a startling amount like my mother."
"I personally think she looks a lot like Lyds," Sirius said, "I can see why future me considers her a copy of Lydia."
"Looking sharp, Benj," Iola twirled, "what do you think?"
"I think I'm going to have to hex a bunch of guys," Benjy bluntly stated, "they're all going to try and get to you, but I've got your back. Bat bogey hex enough people, and suddenly they'd rather give a lady the appropriate amount of space."
"You're too sweet Benj," Iola pinched her cousin's cheeks, "what did I do to deserve such a cute cousin?"
"Where's Rolf?" Michael Corner wondered, "and Lydia for that matter."
"I'm here!" Lydia Corner popped out from behind a couch, "I've been hiding. I feel ridiculous."
"I can't do anything about you feeling ridiculous," her big brother put his hands on her shoulders, "but if anyone dares tell my baby sister that, then they'll have to deal with me."
"That was an odd way of comforting someone," Nico turned to his sister, "I think he gets it from you."
"That's a perfectly rational thing to say," Lyetta defended her future son's words, "I would totally tell you. Regardless, my little girl looks perfectly angelic."
"She does," Tina smiled, "my granddaughter is just as good-looking as the rest of her family."
"What he means to say," Rolf Scamander walks in, "is that you look lovely, my darling cousin. Michael here doesn't use words very efficiently." Lydia rushes to her older cousin, who immediately swirls her around.
"He's handsome like his dad," Nico boasts.
"And Granddad," Newt added, "I find them all to be very wholesome. I'm glad our family still gets along."
"Says you," Michael mumbles under his breath.
"Who are you taking?" Susan Bones drifts down the stairs, "you still haven't told anyone."
"Because I wasn't going to take anyone," Rolf explains, "but then I realized we'd all neglected to invite a very special friend along with us."
"Oh dear," Lily, all dressed in champagne, gasped, "did we?"
"Luna," Rolf said, "so I took the liberty of asking her out to the ball."
"Oh," Pandora gasped, "I'll see my little girl in person now."
"I find it highly suspicious," Callie, ever the trouble maker smirked, "that you of all people noticed that she was dateless. And even stranger that you, the self proclaimed family playboy, wouldn't have asked someone out. I think you're too embarrassed to confess that you genuinely like Luna. You asked her out because you wanted to, didn't you?"
"So my son has a crush on a girl," Nico voiced, "neat. Hope it goes well."
Rolf blushed a bright red. "Why did you get Uncle Siri's big brain?"
"Well," Susan's smile twisted into a playful smirk, "you're in for quite the dance."
"What do you mean?" Lily asked, "Luna's a lovely young woman. I'm pleased Rolf has an interest in her."
"Luna's lovely," Susan agreed, "all the Lovegoods are. But if there is one thing they are known for..."
"..it's their wacky sense of fashion," Callie finished, "Rolf's certainly going to be treated to a unique date."
"So it seems Xeno and Pandora don't change," Kingsley laughs, "good to know."
The scene switches to meeting up with all the champions to open the dance.
"Potter," Cedric Diggory greeted, "where's your date?"
"My cousin is being scolded by a professor," Iola bluntly admitted, "and I'm hoping he'll make it here quickly."
"You're taking your cousin?" Cho Chang asks kindly, "not that it matters, but why didn't you ask anyone out?"
"We all wanted to go together," Iola explains, "my family that is. Besides, it's not as if I liked anyone enough to ask them out."
"Fair enough," Cho shrugs, "your cousin is very proud of you. He speaks of you in the common room."
"Does he now?" Iola smirks, "I'll be sure to remind him of that sometime."
"I'm here," Benjy runs in breathlessly, "McGonagall really is on some sort of anger pill today. I swear I didn't blow the bathroom up. I only told Myrtle to leave the boy's bathroom. She always thinks I'm doing things. Says I'm like my father and aunt. Half the time it's Callie. I wish she'd stop."
"Suffering from his father's reputation it seems," Sirius scowled at McGonagall, "I hope you are aware that is unprofessional behavior from a headmistress."
"It's the future Mr. Black," McGonagall replied shortly, "I can't be held responsible for that."
"You act like that now though," Sirius pointed out, "so I can hold you accountable."
"All champions please enter," McGonagall called, and Iola grabbed Benjy's hand. The two of them began the waltz to open, and rushed off as soon as it was done. They had all agreed to eat together, but that dream was quickly disturbed.
"All the champions are eating together," Crouch said harshly, "it's not an option."
"Why can't I go spend the night with my cousins?" Iola insisted, "we've been planning this since the minute we found out the tournament was happening. It's not my fault that I got stuck in this mess. Let me have fun."
"My student is absolutely right," Mr. Gold stood to defend Iola, "she's an underage witch who will have no pleasure socializing with adults. Let the poor kid have fun with her family."
"Family is not more important than the rules," Crouch's face was turning an impressive shade of red.
"Wouldn't I know?" Barty Jr. sighed.
Regulus Black, from the gryffindor table, itched to comfort his friend, but knew that his words would be unwanted.
"Oh," Lily Lupin's smile turned nasty, "Mr. Crouch?"
"Yes Mrs. Lupin," Crouch turned to face the redheaded witch.
"I think I understand now," Lily stated vaguely.
"Understand what?" Crouch looked extremely confused.
"Why your son decided to join Voldemort of course," Lily's smile was positively vicious. "If this is how you treat others, I can't imagine how you treated the poor lad."
"How dare-" Crouch stuttered, but Lily continued.
"You mess with my niece," Lily snarls, "I mess with you. Leave Iola alone. Iola deary, go find your family. I'll deal with this incompetent excuse of a man."
"You're my new hero," Barty's face was shocked, "no one's ever acted like that to him before. He must be pissed."
"Thanks," Lily was uncomfortable with the attention. She always felt a smidge uncomfortable in the wizarding world anyways. As a muggle-born, she felt as if she never belonged, and that she'd never truly be a witch. She'd never dream of insulting a high esteemed wizard like that. It was rather reassuring, in fact. It meant she had finally found her place, and became more confident with her status as a witch. Tuney was wrong. The wizarding world wasn't going to reject her, and Lily Jasmine Evans wasn't a freak.
"Luna," Iola squealed, arriving at the meeting point, "you look stunning."
"Thank you," a silver clad Luna Lovegood responded cheerily, "I got you something."
"She looks a lot like you," Lydia commented.
"And has Xeno's style," Sirius added, "she must have made those earrings herself. No store I know would sell something like that."
"She's perfect," Pandora glowed, "exactly what I would dream of for a daughter."
A beautiful Iolanthe flower was handed to Iola.
"Thank you," Iola fastened it to her dress, "and while we're talking, I think we need to discuss your taste in boys."
"What's wrong with my taste?" Luna questioned, "Rolf is very handsome. He gets his looks from his father, but his darker complexion from his mother."
"Thanks for someone saying it," Nico bragged, "he definitely is good looking."
"Fair," Iola nods, "Aunt Maria is a gorgeous woman."
"I've only met her once or twice," Luna said, "we're not very close with the Scamanders, but she is definitely a rare beauty."
"Luna!" Rolf rushed by, "let's dance!"
"Okay," Luna took his hand, "bye Iolanthe Potter!"
"She's definitely unique," Michael sat next to her, "I think she'll do a lot of good for Rolf if it lasts. She brings out his inner Scamander. He's far too serious most of the time. We think he gets it from his Uncle Lycoris on the other side."
"I agree," Iola said, and Neville came up.
"Would you like to dance with me Iola," he offered, "although I'm warning you, I may step on your toes."
"He will," Callie sat down, "he stepped on mine. I can't believe Great-Aunt 'Gusta didn't force you to have lessons."
"She did," Neville deadpanned, "I just was so bad, no teacher wanted to teach me."
"He's like my Mum," Alice shook her head, "always clumsy. I'm sure he'll grow out of it."
"I hope so," Frank looked at his on-screen son, "how else will he get a date that's not his cousin? Girls don't want broken toes."
"Sure," Iola took Neville's hand. The film shows a montage of the ball. Everyone had a good time. Eventually, all the family split up, and friends hung out.
"I'm glad she's having a good life," Lydia said, voice strangely small, "and that I haven't ruined her life too much."
"You haven't ruined her life," Benjy grasped her hands, "you created a new, safe world for her to live in. You ensured she had a life to begin with. You protected her from a dangerous madman. You haven't ruined anything."
Lydia simply blushed, and the scene switched to the VoldyBusters.