New Romantics | Hermione Granger Book IV

|63| Chapter Sixty-Three

S I X T Y  T H R E E 

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December came with no event of note for Saffron. Part of the tribulations that came with being under a powerful imperius curse was that she had no true sense of herself. She thought she did but she didn't. The girl who walked into that enclosed area off of the woods in Hogsmeade was gone and wouldn't come back unless she was miraculously freed of the curse. She had no motivation to do anything herself. Anything that she did do was dictated by other people. If it weren't for her friends, she'd have been in her dormitory during every hour that she wasn't in class.

Thanks to the likes of Hermione, Lavender, Parvati, Harry and, by proxy now that he was back to his senses, Ron, Saffron was able to get lead a pretty normal life in Hogwarts, keeping up with her school work and having fun when the occasion warranted it. She still saw her siblings regularly too and they hadn't noticed any major shift in how she was acting either. The only person that things were weird around was Olly. They weren't talking normally anymore, which was, of course, because he was under the very curse that was trapping Saffron. Saffron didn't feel the same rush of excitement that went through her body when she saw him anymore, due to their captors.

What didn't change, however, was the basis of her feelings. They were still there, even if she didn't think about them all the time or that they weren't prominent anymore. The strength of her feelings shone through as when Professor McGonagall made a special announcement during Transfiguration, Saffron's mind only went to one place. That being her fellow hostage, Olly.

"I have something to say to you all," Professor McGonagall raised her hand to silence the class before they all rushed out for lunch. "The Yule Ball is approaching - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests,"

Saffron shared an interesting expression with Parvati. It wasn't a complete shock as they had predicted that there was going to be a dance of sort seeing as they were told to get dress robes for the year. However, they thought it would take place at the end of the tournament, not at the beginning of it.

"Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above - although you may invite a younger student if you wish -"

Lavender hiccoughed hysterically and burst out into giggles. Parvati attempted to nudge her in the ribs but in doing so almost fell off her stool causing Saffron to burst out into laughter. It truly was contagious as Saffron had to hold her hands over her mouth to not allow her laughs to erupt in the room.

Professor McGonagall definitely noticed them as they hadn't been discrete but she continued on, taking no notice. "Dress robes will be worn and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then -" Her narrow eyes scanned the room scathingly. "The Yule Ball is, of course, a chance for us all to - er - let our hair down,"

Lavender's hands couldn't hold back her laughs now and several moans rung loud and clear in the class courtesy of the girl. Saffron felt her cheeks get very hot as she watched Professor McGonagall pace back and forth, looking very disproving of the whole situation. Her hair was tied back so tightly Saffron doubted it had been let down for many a year.

"But that does NOT mean," Professor McGonagall continued, "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 finally rung out, and everyone quickly packed the rest of their belongings away and hurried out of the classroom. However, over all the noise Professor McGonagall could be heard asking Harry to remain behind.