The Yule Ball was officially coming, and Chiara couldn't imagine anything worse than attending any "well-mannered frivolity" as her Head of House put it. McGonagall sat everyone in Gryffindor down to teach them how to dance because she refused to have them besmirching Godric Gryffindor's good name by "behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons".
"The Yule Ball is approaching─a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialise 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 let out a shrill giggle. Parvati nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to giggle. They both looked around at Harry. Chiara pulled a face at the mere thought; she has never attended many balls, luncheons, or parties but all of them seemed more unbearable than the last. The puffy dresses... the heavy jewels... the unnecessary fawning.
"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─" She stared deliberately around the class. "The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to let our hair down, but that does not mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."
Chiara was far too clumsy and uncoordinated to ever successfully manage something like dancing, though she did enjoy watching Ron dance with McGonagall, especially when the twins teased him endlessly about it.
The bell rang in the corridor, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders. Chiara walked straight in Harry's direction, preparing herself to tease him for his presumed lack of dancing skills, before Professor McGonagall called above the noise, "Potter, a word, if you please."
With an apologetic glance in Chiara's direction, Harry proceeded gloomily to the teacher's desk. She turned on her heel and followed her friends out into the corridor.
Chiara finds Harry brooding on the bench near the courtyard.
"What's going on," Chiara asked. She vividly remembered Harry shooting Victor Krum and Cedric Diggory a deadly glare whilst the two boys were being chased by their fangirls. "Did the champions tarnish your ego?"
