in the end ~ d. malfoy

Chapter Twelve

𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒

"POTTER! WEASLEY! WOULD YOU PLEASE PAY ATTENTION?!"

Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracks like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday, and Harry and Ron both jump and look up. It's the end of the lesson; they've finished their work; the guinea fowl they have been changing into guinea pigs have been shut away in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk (Neville's still has feathers); they've copied down their homework from the blackboard ("Describe, with examples, the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches").

The bell's 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 - Maya's not even questioning why they're doing this in McGonagall's class, of all places - , look up, Ron holding a tin
parrot and Harry, a rubber haddock.

"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," says Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the pair of them as the head of Harry's haddock droops and falls silently to the floor (Maya stifles a laugh at this) — Ron's parrot's beak has 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 fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish —"

Lavender Brown lets out a shrill giggle. Parvati Patil nudges her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fights not to
giggle. They both look around at Harry. Professor McGonagall ignores them, continuing on with her speech.

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

Professor McGonagall stares deliberately around the class.

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

Lavender giggles harder than ever, with her hand pressed hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. Maya can finally see what's
funny this time: Professor McGonagall, with her hair in a tight bun, looks as though she's never let her hair down in any sense.

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

The bell rings, and there's the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packs their bags and swings them onto their shoulders. Maya hears Professor McGonagall calling for Harry, but she doesn't register the words. Hermione meets her outside, this being her last class of the day (same going for Maya), walking to the library together.

"Did you hear about the ball?" questions Hermione, eyes uncharacteristically wide with excitement.

"Yeah, McGonagall just told us," she replies, raising her eyebrows at the slight blush on the Gryffindor's cheeks, "What's got you so excited?"

"Oh, nothing" replies Hermione, beaming. Maya chuckles, knowingly. Viktor Krum passes them by in the hall, his crimson, fur-trimmed robes flowing behind his tall, muscled frame. Krum's dark eyes are flitting over Hermione, the action subtle yet appraising enough to hint at romantic interest. His usual gaggle of admirers trots behind him, oblivious to the fact that he only has eyes for one person.