Snape's Daughter {Draco Malfoy~Ron Weasley}

chapter 17: a not so average announcement

"So what do you think the big announcement will be," Cedric asked as he settled down in the spot next to Mia on the Hufflepuff table, "honestly, I think i have an idea but i'm not one hundred percent sure, it seems like i'm the only one who doesn't have the memory of a mouse,"

"Do mice have a bad memory?"

"Not sure i just liked the alliteration and technically speaking mice have a smaller brain than us so there memories will be worse than ours most likely,"

"How do you know if mice have smaller brains?"

"Cedric, you are a great friend you really are but if mice had human brains their heads would be three times the size of their body, you really are quite dense sometimes." The pair began to laugh, for all of Cedric's popularity he really wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, often lacking in the simplest form of common sense. "But anyway," Cedric continued, "what do you think the announcement is going to be?"

"Well it is almost Halloween..." Mia trailed, tilting her head to the side and raising one of her eyebrows then giving Cedric a look that made sure to jog his memory. "You don't think?"

"What else could it be they announced it at about this time last year,"

"I mean i guess, but couldn't the announcement be about Sirius black?" Mia gave Cedic a confused look, "why would it be about Sirius black?"

"And you call me the dense one,"

"Hey no! Why what's happened?" Mia asked, violently shaking Cedric's arm, pleading him to tell her. "Do you not read the daily prophet?" Mia scoffed, "no why would i it is mainly full of lies and prejudice propaganda,"

"Well maybe you should start reading it," Cedric said, pulling out a copy of the latest addition of the daily prophet from his pocket. Mia gasped as she read the title: 'ESCAPED CONVICT SIRIUS BLACK SPOTTED IN HOGSMEADE'

"Oh my god..." Mia's trembling hands held the paper closer to her face to read the article, only for her face to be drained of all color in a split second. She looked at Cedric, fear embedded in her eyes, "you don't think he is trying coming here do you, you don't think he is trying to get into Hogwarts?"

"I don't know but it is what is most likely scenario i mean he," Cedric lowered his voice, "he killed harry's parents, sold them to 'you-know-who', who says he isn't here to finish the job?" Mia stared at Cedric eyes wide with fear, "you can't mean that, you can't believe that surely there is another explanation!"

"Mia look I'm just saying-"

"And i'm saying we should switch the subject it probably wasn't Sirius black that they saw, and besides Hogwarts is a safe place, the safest of places, Helga we have dementors stationed at every exit I'd like to see him try and get in because there is now way that that will happen!" Cedric nodded as if to agree with Mia but his face seemed to tell a different story. Mia and Cedric's conversation after that point seemed to completely avoid the topic of the announcement and the situation with Sirius black all together, and just when it seemed they were going to discuss the topic of the announcement once more Dumbledore stood up to make his speech, they wouldn't have to wait much longer now before they knew what the big news was.

"Can i have your attention please?" Dumbledore's voice echoed around the great hall which immediately silenced everyone. "Thank you, now i have a few important announcements to make. Firstly the quidditch season is to start again on the first of November with a match between gryffindor and slytherin so make sure to turn up and show your support for your house, or your friends house." there was a cheer from a few quidditch enthusiacs before the great hall hushed silent once more, "yes thank you and i would like to remind you once more that the list of banned items of contraband and posted on the door to Mr filch's office, and yes, that does now include the newer items of some students creations.." Dumbledore's eyes hovered over the Weasley twins for a moment with a familiar twinkle in his eyes seeming to signal to the twins that he found the newer of their inventions quite ingenious and inventive, Mia couldn't help to stifle a laugh as she quickly reminisced there latest prank.

"Now as we grow close and closer to the 31st of October i can sense the growing excitement of Halloween filling the air, now as some of you may remember from previous years for third years and above their is an annual Halloween ball," whispers raced up and down the hall, excited girls gushing over there dresses, boys who desperately tried to find out how to ask a girl to be there date and those whose only response was to sigh as they would much rather stuff there face with sweets and candy rather than walk around in heels and trip on an overpriced dress. "Quiet!" Dumbledore roared silencing the room, "while this may be exiting i would just like to go over the basic itinerary for Halloween evening for those of you who do not know or can not remember, curfew for younger students who are not yet in third year will be at the usual time and may i remind you that if you are court out of bed after hours you will be punished." complaints of younger students could be heard around the hall yet none of them dared to speak up above a whisper for while they thought it was unfair the prospect or challenging Dumbledore was completely and utterly hopeless. "Also as you may or may not know the ball is in fact a masquerade ball which means that students that are attending the ball must where a mask for at least the opening dance, if you wish, and the option that is much preferred, you can where you mask for the duration of the dance that will swiftly end at the stroke of midnight at twelve o'clock. However if students want to they can exit the dance earlier. In preparation for the dance once a week leading up to the 31st your head of house will lead dance sessions so that you can be armed with the correct skills to dazzle the dance floor." a series of mix reactions followed this statement, while Mia and Hufflepuff as a whole were quite looking forward to spending extra time with their exceptionally kind, caring and funny head of house, the slytherin table looked as if they wanted to die. As much as Mia loved her father she could not imagine him having to teach a room full of students how to dance, she didn't even know if he knew how to dance! But the cursed image of her father trying to waltz with his flowing black cape trailing behind him was one of the highlights of Mia's night.

"Once more as some of you may know each year, from third years to seventh years, there is a masquerade king and queen which will be voted on before the dance, and those ten individuals will start the dance by dancing with the other person in there year group." Mia wanted nothing more than to be queen of her year group, well almost nothing more, she desperately wanted Tazzy not to get crowned queen, she would much rather someone like Hermonie get crowned; Mia thought about how Hermonie would react to being crowned queen and came to the conclusion that she would ether love it or hate it, no in between. "These individuals will be announced a week before the dance so please cast you votes as soon as possible via the voting ballot stationed outside of each common room from tonight. while second and first years may not attend the ball they may cast votes for the five remaining year groups so help crown the balls kings and queens." Dumbledore paused for a moment before taking in a steady breath and continuing. 

"However more information about the dance will be released soon, but now I fear this jolly announcement must take a serious turn. As some of you may know Sirius black has been spotted in hogsmeade. Dementors are still stationed at every exit of the school so you are all perfectly safe, but be warned there are serious dangers out in the world so keep your guard up and stay vigilant. Sirius black is a dangerous man and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal, but more importantly he is a known follower of lord Voldemort." the majority of the hall gasped and recoiled at the name, even many of the teachers flinched at the mention of the dark lord, the boy they failed, the boy who no matter the love professors surrounded him with he rejected all the sympathy, all of the kindness and turned himself into a monster; or more accurately became his ideal self, unlimited and nearly unlimited support all for it to come crashing down at the feet of a baby boy.

"Right," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together, "I think there is only one more thing for me to say and that is, enjoy the feast!"

A/N:  Oh hello its been a while hasn't it? lmao idek im not dead so that's a win and neither is this fic so yey! so yeah plz vote and comment and that and yeah i'm not sure how to start the next chapter ether i start with the house dance lessons or something else but like i said i have no clue so comment your ideas or if i should start with learning to dance or not.

words: 1635