The Secret of Tom Riddle's Diary

Chapter Sixteen - An Underage Yule Ball

Victoria sat with Astoria, Taylor, and Adriana on the way back on the Hogwarts Express.  Sullen looks covered the faces of Ethan Rosier and Michael McCarthey.  Their steady girls had denied sitting with them to plan for the silly ball in their minds. 

Victoria looked at the list of students signed up.  Every single Slytherin in first and second year had signed up.  If you were a Slytherin and Victoria Avery approached you to ask you if you were going, would you refuse?  That was eighteen already.  All of the second year Ravenclaws were also attending, led by Derek Brown and Michelle Brocklehurst, another Hogwarts young couple.  That was twenty-eight more.  Only six of the first years were attending – that made it thirty-four. 

Taylor had hit it off with Julia Abbott and the Hufflepuffs.  Thanks to her, all ten Hufflepuffs had said they were arriving.  There were only four first-year Hufflepuffs attending however.  Victoria’s work in Gryffindor had gone surprisingly well.  The women in the second year all wanted a good party.  They had convinced Michael Thomas and Lionel Turpin that this was worth their time.  The Gryffindors might not like Slytherins very much, but even the first-years liked the idea of a party – twenty further Gryffindors total.  That brought the ball to sixty-eight attendees.

But now as they planned the next stages, there were issues.  Taylor and Adriana had family obligations that first week.  They would only be able to arrive two hours before the ball.  Victoria would be there the whole time – that made Astoria feel much better.  This didn’t even count the time that would be required to get ball gowns.

Victoria took out a parchment.

“Ladies,” she said, trying to stop the squabbling that was developing between Taylor and Astoria.  “This is what we are going to do.”
She had four parchments of paper giving out duties. 

“Taylor, your job is to get some music.  I believe at the worst if you transfigure some chairs into dummies and some sticks into violins, and then find some of your favorite songs, you should have the music figured out.”

Taylor agreed.  “It will take some work, but I think I can do that.”

“Adriana,” Victoria said pointing at the brunette, “your job is to work on drinks.  Would that be possible?”

Adriana held her hand to her head, nodding her head.  “I believe it might.”

“Astoria will direct her family’s House Elves to clear their parlour and decorate the parlour.  And if you could grant me one House Elf, I will work on the menu.  I will speak to Uncle Rufus to see if we can finance that portion of it as well.”

Astoria started to relax knowing that the last thing would not be dropped on her.

“Then,” Victoria finished, “We will all gather at Greengrass Manor two hours before the Ball with our dates.  Each of us other than Astoria will take turns greeting everyone as they come in.  Astoria will direct her House Elves to make sure everything is set.  Then, when it is time to begin, Astoria will direct everyone to their seats –“

Victoria stopped looking at Astoria with puzzlement.  Her friend was shaking her head fiercely.

“You will be the one doing the talking, Victoria,” she said.

Taylor chuckled, “Yeah.  You are the one who handles that part the best.  And you have the cutest boyfriend.”

They all chuckled at the boys who were clearly not paying attention.  Ethan and Michael looked up – Michael clearly not hearing Taylor mention that Ethan was cuter. 

The girls worked out further how they were going to deal with any security issues.  Victoria wasn’t that concerned.  “Neither Thomas nor Turpin are all that crazy.  The girls in Gryffindor are more trouble than the boys.”