Chosen & Hated (HP) {Book 2 of the Wild & Free Series}

22. Ball Dates

"Potter! Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?"

Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday, and Harry, Ron and I jumped and looked up.

It was the end of the lesson; we had finished our work; the guinea fowl we had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk (Neville's still had feathers); we had copied down our homework from the blackboard. The bell was due to ring at any moment, so Harry, Ron and I had decided to have a sword fight with a couple of Fred and George's fake wands at the back of the class. We looked up, Ron holding a tin parrot, Harry, a rubber haddock and I a plastic canary.

"Now that Potter, Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at us 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 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 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. 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. I 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 behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

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 — a word, if you please, both of you." Assuming this had something to do with his headless rubber haddock and the plastic canary, Harry and I proceeded gloomily to the teacher's desk. Professor McGonagall waited until the rest of the class had gone, and then said,

"Potter, the champions and their partners —"

"What partners?" I said.

Professor McGonagall looked suspiciously at me, as though she thought I was trying to be funny.

"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your dance partners."

My insides seemed to curl up and shrivel.

"Dance partners?" I felt myself going red. "I don't dance," I said quickly and Harry nodded quickly in agreement.

"Oh yes, you do," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."

Oh... Great...

"I'm not dancing," Harry said.

"It is traditional," said Professor McGonagall firmly. "You are Hogwarts champions, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter. Both of you."