Andromeda Malfoy: Harry Potter Fanfic

Lead up to the Yule Ball

Andromeda's POV

So Dobby is now working at Hogwarts. Dumbledore gave him a job. Which is awesome. Winky is also working here. Dumbledore pays Dobby one galleon a week and Dobby gets one day off a month. Originally Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off. But Dobby beat him down. Dobby likes freedom, but he likes work more. I am just happy he is finally being treated right and gets to do what he loves. Serving people without fear of punishment if he does something wrong. Though I am sure he still punishes himself if he does something wrong.

I've been writing to Charlie. Not once have a we discussed Dragons so far. Instead we've been telling each other about our lives. Getting to know each other. And I am not ashamed to admit I maybe falling for him. He is so easy to talk to, he is hot, smart, loves the outdoors, brave and a little clumsy. He had knocked over an expensive display at Zonko's Joke Shop and only a few days later, he fell from a ladder while decorating the great hall. I laughed when I read about those two events.

Anyway, today is Thursday and McGonagall has something to tell us gryffindors. So she had us stay behind after class. The guinea fowl they had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk. We 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.

"Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?" she demands. Harry and Ron both jumped and looked up. They had been having a sword fight with a couple of Fred and George's fake wands at the back of the class. "Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age" she says. "I have something to say to you all" she tells us.

"The Yule Ball is approaching a traditional part of the Tri-wizard 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" she explains. "Dress robes will be worn, and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall" she tells us.

"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to let our hair down" she states. "But that does NOT mean, 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" she tells us.

The bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders. McGonagall has Harry stay back. While the rest of us left. The others and I later found out he'd have to open the dance with the other champions. By dancing with his date. So now he has to find one.

Posters appeared around the school announcing the Yule Ball. I had never known so many people to put their names down to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Everyone in the fourth year and above seemed to be staying. Along with a handful of younger students who'd been invited to the ball by an older student. 

Girls giggling and whispering in the corridors, girls shrieking with laughter as boys passed them, girls excitedly comparing notes on what they were going to wear on Christmas night. Most girls were traveling around in groups. Hermione and I stirred clear of the drama. Focusing on studying. Though she still got asked by none other then Viktor Krum. She said yes. She swore me to secrecy.

I feel bad for Harry. Three girls had asked him to the ball. The first was a curly-haired third-year Hufflepuff girl to whom Harry had never spoken in his life asked him to go to the ball with her the very next day. Harry was so taken aback he said no before he'd even stopped to consider the matter. The girl walked off looking rather hurt, and Harry had to endure Dean's, Seamus's, and Ron's taunts about her all through History of Magic. The following day, two more girls asked
him. A second year and fifth year girl.

Anyway, I am in the library reading a book on healing. When Lee Jordan appears. "Hi Andy" he says as he sits across from me.

"Hi Lee" I say.

"Anyone asked you to the ball yet?" he asks me.

"A few, but I didn't know any of the guys. I'd rather go with a friend or at least someone I know. But no one else has asked me yet" I tell him.

"How would you like to go with me?" he asks and I look up from my book. "Just as friends of course, the twins tell me you've been writing to their brother Charlie" he states. I blush.

"We're just friends" I state.

"But you like him" he states.

"Maybe, but it's kind of hard to start a relationship when I am still in school and he is in Romania. So we're just friends" I tell him.

"Whatever you say" he tells me. "So the ball?" he asks me.

"Sure, I'll go with you" I tell him. "But just as friends" I add.

"Friends" he says with a smile and leaves.

The last week of term became increasingly boisterous as it progressed. Rumors about the Yule Ball were flying everywhere. Like that Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta. It seemed to be fact, however, that he had booked the Weird Sisters. Which is true according to Charlie, who knows the Weird Sisters. He'd gone to school with them.

Some of the teachers, like little Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach them much when their minds were so clearly elsewhere; he allowed them to play games in his lesson on Wednesday. Hermione and I were the only ones who continued to study.

Other teachers were not so generous. Nothing would ever deflect. Professor Binns, for example, from plowing on through his notes on goblin rebellion. Binns hadn't let his own death stand in the way of continuing to teach. Professors McGonagall and Moody kept them working until the very last second of their classes too. Snape, of course, would no sooner let them play games in class than adopt Harry. He surprised us with a test on the last day pf Potions before Christmas break.

Anyway, Ron seem to notice that Hermione and I were girls. He said we could go with Harry and him to the ball. Didn't ask us at all. But we both declined as we already have dates. Though neither of us told the boys who our dates are. Neville got a date before Harry and Ron. He is going with Ginny. I went with her and Hermione to Hogsmeade. Where we got her a dress. Ron and Harry finally got dates for the ball. They are going to the ball with the Patil twins.

A/N

Picture above of the poster advertising the Yule Ball.