Dark child

34

Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?" Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday, and everybody, including Elara and Draco jumped and looked up.

It was the end of the lesson; they had finished their work; the guinea fowl they had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk (Neville's still had feathers); they had 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 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.

"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the pair of them as the head of Harry's haddock drooped and fell silently to the floor — Ron's parrot's 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 fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish —"

Lavender Brown let out a shrill giggle. Parvati Patil nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to giggle. They both looked around at Harry and Elara in turn. 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. Elara could see what was funny this time: Professor McGonagall, with her hair in a tight bun, looked as though she had never let her hair down in any sense.

"But that does NOT mean," Professor McGonagall went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. And also note that a session of dance training is scheduled for the students who find it necessary to receive training. Professor Snape will be teaching you then."

"What?" Draco gasped. He wasn't the only Slytherin to react like that, either. The Slytherins who were quietly and politely watching professor McGonagall up to this moment, were now taking their turn to giggle and laugh.

"Why him?" Elara asked, horrible images of students making fun of her dad dancing around the great hall with flushed faced forming in her mind's eye.

"Because Miss.Riddle, I am rather busy these days, and as the other two heads of houses, professor Flitwick and professor Sprout are not in a fit condition to do the job, he is the only one left for it." Professor McGonagall said briskly.

The bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders. Professor McGonagall called above the noise, "Potter , Riddle — a word, if you please."

Still horror struck by the news she had received, Elara proceeded to the teacher's desk alongside with Harry. Professor McGonagall waited until the rest of the class had gone, and then said, "Potter, Riddle, the champions and their partners —"

"What partners?" said Harry.
Professor McGonagall looked suspiciously at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny.
"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your dance partners."
"Dance partners?" Harry's face went red. "I don't dance," he said quickly.