monophobia • harry potter³ [UNEDITED]

𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢. first time rejection

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      IT WAS THE END OF CLASS WHEN THEY LEARNED ABOUT IT. It Transfiguration on a Thursday and their lesson was about the end, most had finished their work, successfully changing their guinea fowl into guinea pigs. Nyx and Hermione were silently getting through their homework, while Harry and Ron joked around behind them.

"Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?" Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the room. 

The bell was due to ring at any moment, and Harry and Ron, who had been having a sword fight with a couple of Fred and George's fake wands at the back of the class looked up, Ron holding a tin parrot and Harry, a rubber haddock. 

Nyx rolled her eyes at them, but grinned at their expressions — Professor McGonagall had really startled them. 

"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the boys as the head of Harry's haddock dropped and fell to the floor — Ron's parrot beak had severed it moments before — "I have something to say to you all. The Yule Ball is approaching — a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to four years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish—" 

Nyx hadn't noticed but she'd gone scarlet red. Lavender Brown let out a shrill giggle. Parvati Patil nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as though she took fought not to giggle. They both looked around at Harry — then back at Nyx who was trying her best not to get any redder. Professor McGonagall ignored them. 

"Dress robes will be worn," Professor McGonagall continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then—" 

Professor McGonagall stared deliberately around the class.

"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to — er — let our hair down," she said, in a disapproving voice. 

Lavender giggled harder than ever, with her hand pressed hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. 

"But of course that does NOT mean," Professor McGonagall went on, "that we will be relaxing with standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

The bell rang, and there was a usual scuffle of actively as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders. Nyx sprung up from her seat, very stiffly, began walking out of the classroom with Hermione. 

Professor McGonagall called from the noise, "Potter — a word, if you please."

Hermione nudged Nyx who bolted down the corridor the moment she stepped out of the classroom. Nyx had her hands on her cheeks and could feel how warm they were — she didn't want to picture how she looked ... probably like a tomato.