Hidden Talent

Chapter: 18

"There's no way we'll find anything in time" Johnny stressed, pacing behind Jack as he flipped through a stack of charm books. They'd been in the Library all morning looking for a solution to the British teens problem, it was only a week until the end of term and they had a House meeting in a couple hours.

"Calm down" Ling smiled, looking up from his own book "We'll find something eventually"

"But even if we find something I still need to find someone to go to the Ball with me!"

"You're right" Hikaru groaned, dumping another stack of books on their table "We're doomed. There's no way we'll have time to find a date"

"Speak for yourselves" Jack smirked smugly, grabbing another book "I have a boyfriend. That means I automatically have a date"

"It's funny how the Champions, who have the most to do, have already got someone lined-up to go with them" Hikaru sulked, slumping down next to Ling and pulling a large, dusty book closer.

"Other than Cedric, how do you know if the others have dates?"

"Cause Krum is two rows down, all up in Granger's space" Hikaru shrugged, gesturing behind him to the back of the Library "You could cut the sexual tension with a butter knife"

"What about Fleur?" Johnny asked, falling into the seat next to Jack who looked at him in disbelief, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"She's Fleur. Duh!"

"And I heard our Quittitch team Captain was going with her" Hikaru quickly added.

"Wow, that was fast. Roger must of asked her as soon as Flitwick announced the Ball" Ling grinned teasingly "Ya' know what they say about fast guys, right?"

"They finish quickly?" Jack snickered at the dirty joke before turning back to Hikaru "What about that Potter kid?"

"He's been mooning over Cho all year, but he's too shy to ask her so far" he shrugged just as Jack suddenly slammed the book he'd been reading down, open in the centre of the table with a triumphant sound. They three others jumping back in shock.

"Ah Ha! 'Verusa Sua' a handy charm that causes inanimate objects to dance independently. For a specific dance routine, simply say the dace's name before the incantation" the Goth read, running a finger under the text.

"I recognise that spell" Johnny muttered, his brow frowning in thought "My mom uses it on her cake toppings..."

"Yeah, so? If we cast it on both of your shoes at once it might work" Jack shrugged "It wont make you a brilliant dancer, but hopefully you wont be a 'Natural Disaster' anymore"

"It's worth a shot" Hikaru shrugged in an easy-going manner, giving Johnny an encouraging smile "It couldn't make you any worse"

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When the group of Ravenclaw's arrived at Professor Flitwick's classroom for the House meeting they were greeted by the sight of all of their House mates between the 4th and 7th year huddled together in the cleared out Charms class, the tables and chairs had been pushed up against the walls for some reason and their Head of House ushering them all to find a place to sit.

Sharing a look of confusing with his friends, Jack shrugged before hopping up onto on of the tables, wondering what was going on. The re-decorating seemed to serve no real purpose that he could think of, it just seemed counter productive since it would have to be put back for class next week.

"The Yule Ball..." Professor Flitwick began, once everyone had arrived and taken a seat, looking around the classroom, smiling at all of his attentive students "Has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since it first began" He continued, pacing around the centre of the room just as Filch wheeled in a comically large phonograph "As Hogwarts is hosting and you all will be representing our school, I expect all of you to be one you best behaviours and put your best foot forwards. Literally"

Jack couldn't help but snicker quietly behind his hand as he realized what was happening and glanced over at Johnny just in time to witness the blond turn a pasty white as it also dawned on him what the half Dwarf was about to make them do.

"As you all have probably guessed the Yule Ball requires for you all to dance" he cheered, arms raised enthusiastically only for the majority of male students to groan and sink down in their seats "And today I will be teaching you all the traditional opening dance of the Yule Ball. The four Champions will begin the Ball with this dance before the everyone else joins in"

"Now, I'll need some volunteers so Miss... Change and Mr... Furufa!" Flitwick selected randomly from the hesitant teens, resulting in Johnny slumping in relief as Hikaru was chosen and not him "Could you come up here, please?"

Cho quickly stood up eagerly with a nervous expression while Hikaru flashed a cocky smirk before stepping in front of her and confidently taking up a traditional waltz stance.

"Well now!" the Professor grinned "It seems that Mr. Furuya has some experience with classical dance! As you all can see he has taken Miss. Change's right hand him his left and placed his other hand on her waist"

Ling joined in with a couple other boys and wolf-whistled "Woo, looks like Hikaru's busting-out his best moves!"

"Hush now" Professor Flitwick waved them off before gesturing for Filch to start the phonograph "Now, Mr. Furuya will take the lead, starting in a traditional waltz, and... One, two, three! One, two, three!" he chanted, waving his arms to the music as the couple began to sway "Once the music picks up in tempo Mr. Furuya will lift Miss. Change by the waist and spin her clockwise"

"That kinda' sucks for someone with a big dance partner" Jack whispered, feeling a little sorry for any of the large girls who'd been invited to the ball, way-to-go making them feel insecure.

"What about the guys trying to lift them?" Ling snickered back quietly.

"Everyone please come together!" Flitwick called out as he stepped to the side, away from the gathering teenagers.

The girls practically leaped from their seats as the boys seemed to sink deeper into theirs while Johnny almost fainted as the blood rushed from his face "Hide me!" he squeaked, ducking behind Jack.

"Seriously? Uhg!" Jack rolled his eyes and shrugged the blond off "This is a Dance Class, everyone already expects each other to be crap. It's the actual Ball you have to worry about" he scoffed before jumping up and turning to Ling "Be Cedric's stand-in for me, please?"

Unable to resist Jack's puppy-eyes, Ling grinned before leading the Goth into the centre of the room and leaving Johnny to try and hide under one of the tables.