The Yule Ball Part 1

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Everyone in the great hall is excited, though some for different reasons. They are awaiting the arrival of the champions. Four Champions in the Triwizard Tournament. It is scandalous, although the fourth champion, Harry Potter,  is probably the reason why so many guests have come.
Lucius Malfoy. The Minister. Amelia Bones. The French and Bulgarian Ministers. Ludo Bagman. The list goes on.

Madame Maxine is not happy about Harry Potter being in the tournament. However, her problem is more that Hogwarts has 2 champions rather than one of them being the Boy-who-lived.

Karkaroff is also unhappy. His reason is that he suspects a plot from the Dark Lord, who is returning, his mark tells him. If the Dark Lord does return, He will not be pleased with Karkaroff.

Dumbledore is content,  not happy as such, but content. He does not want Harry to suffer, as will undoubtedly happen when Tom returns for good.
(He ignores the fact that Harry has probably already suffered, thanks to Petunia)
Therefore, he hopes that Harry will die when whatever plot Tom's followers are enacting comes to fruition, one more Horcrux gone.
For the Greater Good, of course. . .
It really is a shame about the boy, but one life for millions? There is an obvious answer.  Besides, it was prophesied! He is merely...choosing to ignore devious plans so as to end Harry's suffering sooner. It is necessary. 
(A tiny part of him hates himself for that, for allowing the death of a child in his care....but it can't be heard as Dumbledore has squished it down so much it is inaudible)

Severus Snape watches in distaste. It is far too gaudy for his liking. This whole tournament is just another way for spoilt, arrogant Potter to play at hero. Just as bad as his father. Stupid Gryffindors
(He ignores the fact that Potter is also technically Evans. Dumbledore's well chosen words over the years have made that happen. It would need a huge event to change that.)

Fawkes oversees everything. His master Dumbledore has changed. (Or maybe he has always been so, and Fawkes just hadn't noticed.)
No matter how Great the Good, how unyielding the words of prophesy, childrens lives should never be sacrificed, whether in war or not. The phoenix is glad that soon, his lord Slytherin will claim him and free him from the tarnished bond with the tainted headmaster.

Everybody's chattering falls quiet as a burst of fire heralds the entrance of the first champion! Most of  the boys and some of the girls' heads turn quickly as Fleur Delacour glides in, looking positively ethereal in robes of silver satin. Roger Davis is by her side, looking as if he has no idea how he pulled her.

Next another burst means Victor Krum enters, dressed in full ceremonial robes and furs. Smiling by his side, Hermione Granger stands, looking brilliant in a pink dress, her wild hair now falls in beautiful waves. Oddly enough,  Ron Weasley doesn't look as jealous as one would expect, sitting with Parvati Patil as he is.

Then further fire proclaimes Cedric Diggory, hair nicely arranged, wearing formal wizarding robes with a crisp white shirt underneath.  Cho Chang walks next to him, wearing a lovely form-fitting white and gold dress.

Finally the last burst of flame appears, and Harry Potter arrives. Everyone gapes. Well, not quite everyone, Ron Weasley's expression doesn't change, Fred and George grin wolfishly, Ginny and Luna smile.

Harry Potter is wearing stunning green dress robes over a white shirt and tight black leather trousers. His glasses are gone, replaced by contacts. His boots are a shimmering scaled material, if one didn't know better you might think it basilisk skin. His hair has been grown, it falls to just above his shoulders and tints red. Around his neck lies a Black Mamba about 1.5 metres long. Yes, a real one. But it is his partner who causes more shock. Blaise Zabini, son of the Black Widow and heir to magical Italy's Mafia, is on Harry Potter's arm.

Music begins to play and the champions start to dance.

Madame Maxine tilts her head slightly,  not understanding what everyone's stunned expressions are for. Surely England is not homophobic?

Karkaroff is similarly confused, however puts it down to the long snake around Potter's neck.

Dumbledore nearly chokes on a sherbet lemon. What is the boy doing with a snake and a Slytherin? Surely his Gryffindor savior is not slipping to the dark side?

Severus Snape does, in fact, choke on his firewhiskey. For a second, instead of Potter, all he sees is Lily. The hair, the eyes, the robes...She always used to wear green. Then snapping back to reality he gapes. The image in front of him does not make sense. Potter is wearing Slytherin green robes. Potter has a snake around his neck. Potter is dancing with Blaise bloody Zabini! What parallel universe has he stumbled across?

Draco Malfoy is stunned. Potter. Slytherin hating, Golden boy Potter. Was dancing, like a pureblood, with Zabini. Zabini! The one person he can't bully, who doesn't obey him because of his father. The one Slytherin who, if he was so inclined,  could have most of their house bowing to him purely because of his mother. Not to mention the absolutely gorgeous snake around Potter's neck. What on earth was going on?

More people begin to come up to dance.

Ron Weasley smiles to himself as he twirls Parvati around. She's actually quite good fun, obviously she doesn't compare to Hermione but apparently he doesn't compare to Astoria Greengrass, so they're doing very nicely as friends.
Harry looks brilliant, the looks on everyone's faces were priceless when they saw Ĵor and Blaise. He is so glad that they can stop hiding, it was getting really annoying... He winks at Luna and  Ginny as they whirl past, the two had come with Fred and George so that both girls could dance together while said twins danced with Flora and Hestia Carrow. Oh yes, the rest of the year was going to be fun...


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