C h a p t e r 11 : The Grand Ball

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The return of the students from their holiday break brought a wave of excitement and anticipation to Hogwarts, but the festive cheer was quickly extinguished by the arrival of Dolores Umbridge. The air grew thick with her suffocating presence, her every move calculated and her every word dripping with authority. She had taken over the school with an iron fist, wielding the power of the Ministry like a weapon. Hogwarts, once a haven of magic and wonder, had become a sterile, regimented institution, where joy was stifled and individuality was suppressed. Professor Dumbledore, consumed by a secret war that raged beyond the castle walls, seemed oblivious to the suffocating atmosphere that Umbridge had imposed.

The Great Hall, once a vibrant tapestry of laughter and conversation, was now a silent, sterile space. Tables and chairs were meticulously aligned, their polished surfaces reflecting the dim glow of the chandeliers. Students, their faces etched with worry and apprehension, silently read the exam papers that had been thrust upon them. The sudden imposition of the OWLs exams, a blatant attempt to disrupt the normal school routine, had cast a pall over the festive spirit.

Two vacant chairs at the Gryffindor table caught my eye. The Weasley twins, usually a whirlwind of mischief and mayhem, were nowhere to be seen. Their absence was a stark reminder of the restrictions that had been placed upon them, their ingenious inventions banned from the castle.

A sudden commotion outside the Great Hall shattered the tense silence. Professor Umbridge, her face contorted with irritation, stormed out of the hall, her pink robes billowing behind her. The heavy oak doors creaked open, and there, silhouetted against the darkening sky, were the Weasley twins, perched on a flying broom. A cheer erupted from the students, the sound echoing through the hall as they rose from their seats, their exam papers forgotten. The twins, with a mischievous glint in their eyes, unleashed a volley of fireworks into the air.

Chaos erupted in the Great Hall. Students, their faces alight with a mixture of excitement and rebellion, joined the frenzy. The air filled with the colorful bursts of fireworks, the sound of laughter and shouts drowning out the whispers of the exam. The Weasley twins, their faces flushed with exhilaration, expertly maneuvered their broom through the hall, their laughter echoing through the rafters.

A Chinese dragon, formed from a shower of sparks, swooped down from the ceiling, engulfing Madam Umbridge in a burst of light and smoke. The twins, their faces alight with triumph, soared out of the hall on their broom, leaving a trail of smoke and laughter in their wake.

Professor Dumbledore, accompanied by the other professors, rushed into the hall, their faces a mixture of amusement and concern. Madam Umbridge, her face contorted with fury, glared at the students, her voice a shrill, high-pitched shriek. "The Ministry will hear about this!" she exclaimed, her words echoing through the hall. She stormed out, followed by Madam Pomfrey, who was tasked with tending to her bruised ego.

"Although Weasley's blunder prevented the OWLs exam from taking place, I'm pleased to say that the annual ball will still be taking place TONIGHT!" Professor Dumbledore announced, his voice booming through the hall. The students erupted in cheers, their spirits lifted by the unexpected announcement. I knew that Dumbledore, in his wisdom, was allowing this moment of revelry, a brief respite from the looming war. After all, this could be the last time Hogwarts would experience a night of carefree celebration.

The castle buzzed with excitement as students prepared for the ball. My dress, a stunning emerald green gown that matched the color of our house, had arrived by owl, a gift from my mother. I was sure that the tuxedo I had chosen for Severus, a sleek black number with a touch of emerald green, was already waiting for him in his chambers. I hoped he would wear it, I wanted him to see himself as I saw him, a charming and elegant man.

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