WARNING: SPOILERS!!! ~A Watty's 2019 Submission!

Saved for Karina Potter, Aunt Marauder

Karina passed by the the Great Hall, to see that the inside was filled with all of Gryffindor, and stopped her rounds to peek in as McGonagall spoke to the students, going to stand by Harry, Ron, and the Weasley twins.

"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Tri-Wizard Tournament," She paused to glare at Filch, who was struggling with the speakers, then turned back to her students. "since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is first and foremost... a dance." Karina grinned as a load of groans came from the boys and a few excited squeals came from the girls. "Silence." McGonagall called, and the room was silent again. "The house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons."

"Try saying that five times faster." Fred whispered to George, and as they began to try, Karina tapped them on the head gently to stop them, mouthing "later" to them. That was the sort of thing that James and Sirius would have attempted in their day, and she was eager to join in on the fun.

"Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight." McGonagall continued.

"Something's about to burst out of Hilary, but I don't think it's a swan." Ron whispered to Seamus, but unfortunately, he wasn't as quiet as his brothers, which was noticed by McGonagall.

"Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr Weasly, will you join me?" Ron's face turned as red as his hair, and he got to his feet, McGonagall pulling him onto the dance floor. "Now, place your right hand on my waist." Ron's face turned an even darker shade of red.

"Where?"

"My waist." McGonagall repeated. Ron did so, and a wolf whistle rose from the crowd. "Now bend your arm." She instructed, then looked to Filch. "Mr Filch..." Filch started the music, and McGonagall led Ron in a dance. "One two three, one two three, one two
three..."

"Oi!" Karina turned at Harry's sharp whisper, and saw that he was talking to the twins. "Never gonna let him forget this are you?"

"Never." They told him in unison, matching grins on their faces.

"Everybody come together." McGonagall called. All of the girls stood at once, but the boys remained seated. "Boys, on your feet." Only Neville stood this time, and Karina put her hands on her hips.

"Boys, I'm surprised at you!" She told them, standing before them. "The Yule Ball is a night filled with wonder and fun! And none of you will learn to dance simply because it seems unmanly?" None of the boys gave her an answer, but she got one. "Those in Gryffindor pride on learning to dance! You know, if anyone in here pays attention in Professor Binns's class, which I know you don't because I never did myself, you would know that the Founders themselves were at the Yule Ball of their time! And Godric Gryffindor was complimented for his regal stance in dancing! The way he looked and how well he danced! Made every woman in the ballroom want to dance with him!" Many of the boys looked up that. "And I am certain that the only person that these lovely ladies want to dance with are Longbottom and Weasley over here! So thank you, you two, for stepping up and for acting as proud Gryffindors!" Neville looked at his feet, his face turning pink at the compliment. Ron smiled, but it seemed forced. He hadn't exactly stepped up, but Karina seemed to think he was, and was good enough for him. "And to look into this crowd of boys and see them throw away the Gryffindor spirit so easily..." She continued, turning back to the boys who were sitting down. "Shameful." She spat. "Simply shameful." That got them to stand, and the girls on the other side got excited.