A Potter Secret

Is there to be a Dance?

Harry is looking at Cho. When she looks back he spills drink from his mouth. They laugh at him. Hermione reads a newspaper at the table. "Look at this! I can't believe it she's done it again. Miss Granger a plain but ambitious girl seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey sources report is none other than the Bulgarian bon-bon Viktor Krum. No word yet on how Harry Potter's taking this latest emotional blow."

A young boy walks up holding a package. "Parcel for you Mr. Weasley," Nigel says.

"Thank you Nigel," Ron says. Nigel is gazing at Harry. "Not now Nigel. Later. Go on."

Nigel leaves. "I told him I'd get him Harry's autograph," Ron admits, opening the passages. "Oh look mum's sent me something. Mum sent me a dress?"

"Well it does match your eyes," Harry jokes. "Is there a bonnet?" Harry reaches into the box and pulls out a frilly neck-piece.

"Ginny these must be for you," Ron says, holding them up in front of her.

"I'm not wearing that it's ghastly," Ginny insists.

Hermione laughs. "What are you on about?" Ron asks, walking back to put the outfit in a box.

"They're not for Ginny they're for you!" Hermione cries. "Dress robes." Everyone who hears laughs at Ron's misfortune.

"Dress robes? for what?" Ron asks.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mr. Filch is messing with a giant record player. "The yule ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception," McGonagall announces to the Gryffindors who sit, divided by gender. "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." Groans emerge from the boys who are listening on. The girls seem a lot more excited. "Silence. 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 whispers to George. They try.

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

Ron leans towards Seamus, whispering, "Something's about to burst out of Hilary but I don't think it's a swan."

McGonagall notices immediately. "Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr. Weasley, will you join me," McGonagall insists. She grabs Ron and pulls him up to dance. "Now, place your right hand on my waist."

"Where?" Ron asks.

"My waist," McGonagall repeats. He does so and a wolf whistle comes from the crowd. "Now bend your arm. Mr. Filch." The music starts and McGonagall leads Ron in a dance. "One two three, one two three, one two three."

Harry leans back to talk to the Weasley twins. "Oi! Never gonna let him forget this are you?" Harry pleads.

"Never," the twins assure.

"Everybody come together," McGonagall insists. The girls instantly stand and walk forward, the boys are all still seated. "Boys, on your feet." Neville stands.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Why do they always have to travel in packs? How are you supposed to get one alone to ask them?" Harry asks.