In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 139: The Unexpected Task.

"Black! Lupin! Will you pay attention?"

Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday, Bailey and I both jumped and looked up.

It was the end of the lesson and we had finished our work. The guinea fowl we had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away in a large cage on Professor McGonagall's desk (Neville's still had feathers); we had copied down our homework from the blackboard ("Describe, with examples, the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches"). The bell was due to ring at any moment, and Bailey and I, who had been having a sword fight with a couple of Fred and George's fake wands at the back of the class, looked up, Bailey holding a tin parrot and me, a rubber haddock.

"Now that Black and Lupin have been kind enough to act their age," said Professor McGonagall, with an angry look at the pair of us as the head of my haddock drooped and fell silently to the floor-Bailey's parrot's beak had severed it moments before-"I have something to say to you all.

"The Yule Ball is approaching-a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above, although you may invite a younger student if you wish-"

Lavender let out a shrill giggle. Parvati nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to giggle. They both looked at Harry, while Professor McGonagall ignored them, which I thought was distinctly unfair, as she had just told off me and Bailey.

"Dress robes will be worn," Professor McGonagall continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then,"

Professor McGonagall stared deliberately around the class.

"The Yule Ball is, of course, a chance for us all to er, let our hair down," she said, in a disapproving voice.

Lavender giggled harder than ever, with her hand pressed hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. I could see what was funny this time: Professor McGonagall, with her hair in a tight bun, looked as though she had never let her hair down in any sense.

"But that does NOT mean," Professor McGonagall went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

The bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders.

Professor McGonagall called above the noise, "Potter and Black, a word, if you please."

Assuming this had something to do with his headless rubber haddock, I proceeded slowly to the teacher's desk. Professor McGonagall waited until the rest of the class had gone, and then said, "The champions and their partners-"

"What partners?" said Harry.

Professor McGonagall looked suspiciously at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny.

"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your dance partners."

"Dance partners?" He went red. "I don't dance," he said quickly.

"Oh yes, you do," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."

Great.

"I'm not dancing," Harry said.

"It is traditional," said Professor McGonagall firmly. "You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter. You don't see Miss Black complaining."