Chapter 24: Christmas Afternoon
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
Elsewhere in the castle, Cedric Diggory woke on Christmas morning to the familiar sight of presents piled beside his bed.
There were gifts from his parents, one from Cho Chang, and several more from various admirers.
However, one package had no name attached.
Curious, Cedric opened it.
Inside was a wand-cleaning kit.
He unfolded the small note inside.
Hope we can use this together sometime.
Your fellow champion,
Ron
Cedric stared at the message for a moment.
Then he quietly stood up and headed straight for the showers.
It took nearly thirty minutes before his fellow Hufflepuffs managed to convince him to come back out.
Ron's Christmas Morning
When Ron Weasley finally woke up, he immediately attacked the pile of presents beside his bed.
From his mother he received the usual handmade sweater.
Hermione had sent him a box of Chocolate Frogs.
Harry had given him a book titled Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland.
The Weasley twins had given him a box of Canary Creams.
Ron didn't give a single thought to the fact that he had given Harry and Hermione nothing in return. He simply assumed they would understand.
After all, he was far too busy with the Triwizard Tournament to worry about Christmas shopping.
Ron picked up the box of Canary Creams and eyed it suspiciously.
Like I'd ever eat something Fred and George made, he thought.
A moment later he popped one into his mouth.
Seconds later he transformed into a large yellow canary.
After a quick molting session and returning to normal, Ron shrugged.
Then he ate another one.
Christmas Lunch
Later that morning Harry and Hermione enjoyed breakfast together in the Great Hall, each thanking the other for their thoughtful gifts.
Afterward they returned to an empty classroom to continue practicing their dancing.
What had been miserable the previous day now felt surprisingly enjoyable.
Harry kept noticing the way Hermione looked at him when they danced.
Eventually the practicing slowed.
Then stopped.
And the rest of the morning was spent expressing their feelings in ways that required no words at all.
It was during one of those moments that Ron entered the common room.
"Pbrrrrrp."
Harry didn't even glance away from Hermione.
"Morning, Ron."
"Pbrrrrrp."
Harry leaned closer to Hermione and whispered.
"Think we can fix that tonight?"
"Perhaps a silencing charm," Hermione replied quietly.
"I'll leave it in your capable hands," Harry said, gently lifting her hand and brushing his lips across her palm.
Hermione shivered slightly.
Across the room, Fred Weasley and George Weasley were watching their brother carefully.
Fred grinned.
"That compulsion charm worked perfectly."
George nodded.
"Yes, but at this rate he'll eat all the Canary Creams before tonight."
Fred shrugged.
"Still entertaining."
The Snowball Fight
At noon the students gathered outside for a massive Christmas lunch followed by a snowball fight.
More than a hundred turkeys were served in the Great Hall, along with Christmas puddings and wizard crackers.
After lunch Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and the twins headed outside into the snow.
Hermione initially refused to participate.
Then Harry gave her his best puppy-dog expression.
She relented.
Unfortunately for everyone else, Hermione proved extremely accurate with her banishing charms.
Soon enchanted snowballs were chasing students across the grounds.
Ron eventually appeared around four o'clock, still carrying his golden egg everywhere he went.
Fred immediately threw a snowball at him.
The snowball struck the egg.
"Hey!" Ron protested.
Another snowball struck him moments later.
Ron lifted the egg dramatically and tried to kiss it.
His lips immediately froze to the cold metal surface.
"HELP ME!"
Harry looked at the twins.
The twins looked at Hermione.
Everyone shook their heads.
No one was willing to use a heating charm when Ron's face was pressed against the egg.
And nobody wanted to touch it either.
"I think you'll have to wait for the metal to warm up," Hermione suggested calmly.
Ron eventually shuffled back inside, trying desperately to hide his face.
The egg finally released him twenty minutes later.
Unfortunately half the castle had already seen him.
The other half heard the story.
Getting Ready for the Ball
Around five o'clock Hermione excused herself.
"I should start getting ready."
"Three hours?" Harry asked, surprised.
Hermione leaned closer and whispered in his ear.
"It will be worth it."
Then she kissed him quickly and hurried off toward Gryffindor Tower.
Harry Prepares
At half past six Harry returned to his dormitory.
After taking a long hot shower, he dressed in his formal robes.
Just as he finished, Ron walked into the room.
His lips were extremely red.
Harry blinked.
"Uh… Ron?"
Ron waved him off.
"Relax. I'm a champion. They can't start the ball without me."
Harry simply shook his head and headed downstairs.
Hermione's Entrance
Harry and Neville Longbottom waited nervously in the common room for their dates.
Neville looked miserable.
"I'm going to embarrass myself," he muttered.
"You'll be fine," Harry said.
Then Harry looked toward the staircase.
Every thought vanished from his mind.
Hermione slowly descended the stairs wearing elegant periwinkle-blue robes.
Her hair was styled neatly, and the diamond jewelry sparkled softly in the light.
Harry forgot how to breathe.
"Hermione…?"
She smiled at him.
"You're staring."
"You're beautiful," Harry managed.
"Was the three hours' worth it?" she teased.
"Absolutely."
Then Ron appeared behind them.
"PPPWWWWTTT!"
Chaos Before the Ball
Meanwhile, in the Slytherin common room, Draco Malfoy was being aggressively prepared for the evening by Millicent Bulstrode, his unwanted fiancée.
When Draco muttered an insult about Hermione…
Millicent punched him.
Twice.
She then calmly told him to pick up his teeth and go see Madam Pomfrey before the ball started.
Draco fled immediately.
Waiting for the Ball
Eventually the champions gathered in the Great Hall.
The decorations were breathtaking.
The walls glittered with silver frost while garlands of ivy and mistletoe hung from the enchanted ceiling.
Instead of long house tables, dozens of smaller round tables filled the room.
Harry and Hermione sat together with Neville, Ginny, the twins, and several others.
At the champions' table Ron was already complaining loudly.
When he finally discovered how the magical menu worked, he shouted at his plate:
"Everything!"
Moments later an enormous pile of food collapsed onto the table.
Albus Dumbledore calmly vanished the mess with a wave of his wand.
Ron protested loudly.
"Hey! I was going to eat that!"
Dumbledore suggested politely:
"Perhaps one plate at a time, Mr. Weasley."
Seventeen plates later, Dumbledore was no longer entirely confident the kitchen staff had prepared enough food.
The Dancing Begins
When the music began, Harry led Hermione onto the dance floor.
The hours of practice paid off.
They moved smoothly across the floor, gliding effortlessly through the waltz.
Soon the magical spotlight focused entirely on them.
Neither noticed.
They only saw each other.
Meanwhile Ron managed to break several bones in Sybill Trelawney's foot during the very first dance.
Madam Pomfrey quickly suggested she sit the rest of the evening out.
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