Saturday, August 20, 2005
Chapter 8
The Festival of Ghouls
That night Harry couldn't sleep, yet again... Surely Draco couldn't be a Drakon! Could he? He had never bumped into Malfoy all this time when he was at Agathos' den...he had never seen Malfoy communicating with Agathos or the other House Dragons... but Harry knew better than to brush this feeling aside... deciding that it was time yet again for another visit to see Agathos, Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map and hurried down to the dragon's den...
"Hello Harry... I was half expecting you'd come... I trust you've met my distant cousin, Horas, today? She did tell me you had to go up against her for the first task..." Agathos greeted Harry with his magnificent purple gaze as Harry took off his invisibility cloak... "oh.. yes... we, er... met... but Agathos... why did you tell Horas not to attack me? That's as good as cheating..." but before Harry could finish his sentence, Agathos Daimon cut him off in a stately manner... and Harry could sense the slight disappointment in Agathos' tone, inside of his head... "Harry... We, dragons, have our special set of codes... and we abide by these codes as if our life depended on it...it's part of our blood and we are magically bound by them... and one of the codes specifically states that we are not allowed to deceive others, be dishonest, or perform any form of fraud or deception to any magical creature.. and that includes wizards like you Harry... I simply told Horas of how an inquisitive young boy named Harry Potter... the one who had decieved the Dark Lord three times thus far has been one of my faithful companions in Hogwarts... you together with Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid... so to answer your question Harry... I have not cheated or shown any favouritism in any way... Professor Dumbledore had made me swear not to tell any of the contestants what they had to face in the first task...seeing that he knows of your frequent lil' trips down here to visit me ever so often Harry..." Agathos finished with a slight gleam in his eye... the moonlight made his leathery hide seem very beautiful.. this made Agathos look extremely elegant in a royal sort of way...Professor Dumbledore knew about Harry visiting Agathos? Well... it wasn't soo much of a surprise anyway, since Dumbledore himself visits Agathos every now and then... he figured Dumbledore would learn the truth someday... Harry regreted for ever suspecting Agathos and started off..."I'm so sorry Agathos... it's just that I thought I had it easy with Horas... I thought it was unfair that I could speak Drakonis when none of the other contestants can..." Agathos stood up, ruffled his wings behind his back.. and he slowly beckoned towards Harry... He stretched out his front claw... and in it, Harry saw a medallion... with a Dragon crest... "Harry... I want you to have this... This was passed down for generations in my family... it was a symbol of trust that my family held dear... you see Harry, if a dragon gives this medallion to a wizard, it means that the dragon trusts the wizard unconditionally... this medallion does hold some protective charms...which will provide the bearer protection against most forms of Dark Magic... and Harry... it would mean a lot if you would accept this token of my trust in you...Just know that you are protected by the ancient magic of the Dragons... and that I will always be here for you even in the most dire of times..." Agathos spoke...This was most unexpected for Harry... and he didn't know what to say... Harry accepted the medallion and thanked Agathos for bestowing upon him one of the most prized possessions of the Dragon race... but just before Harry turned to leave for his dorm, he turned around once again to Agathos... he had forgotten to ask him about Draco! Almost instinctively, as if Agathos had read Harry's mind... the Hogwarts Guardian's voice resonated from within Harry's head..."No Harry... the son of Lucius Malfoy has never been down here to see me or any of the House Dragons for that matter... but as to whether he is a Drakon or not... I can't say...that pompous Swedish Short Snout refused to talk to any of us dragons here at Hogwarts... She seemed to think that she was far more superior than any of us! It isn't much of a surprise actually... seeing that she is afterall the direct descendant of the Swedish Royal line of Dragons... so you see Harry... I cannot approach her to ask if that Malfoy boy really is a Drakon... I'm sorry..." Agathos said with a sort of finality in his tone..."Oh that's alright Agathos...it's no matter... I was just curious that's all..." Harry said as he bid farewell to the Hogwarts Guardian and sped off to his dormitory room.. feeling very elated that he had just recieved the symbol of the Dragon's trust...
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Harry awoke with a startled expression the next morning... as he inched his way down to the Gryffindor Common Room... he saw lots of goodies, presents and fanmails waiting for him near the fireplace... he realised he had missed breakfast as he looked down at his wrist-watch... "Goodmorning sleepy-head!" Ginny beamed... "Go on... open your fanmails.. everyone's really excited about how you managed to get past that Hungarian Horntail, Harry... It was really brilliant!" Ginny gushed a pale shade of red as she said this... her fiery red hair glistened in the morning rays of sunshine and she looked really beautiful with her hair let down ... Harry didn't know when he would finally get the courage to ask Ginny out... and before he could say anything to her... Ron and Hermione stepped into the Common Room.. with a huge grin on their faces... "Blimey Harry! I really hope you don't turn into another Lockhart with all this fanmail and goodies you've got! I don't reckon I would be able to handle another loon like him..." Ron laughed..."Oh knock it off Ron... Harry, Ginny... did you hear the news? Professor Mcgonagall's just been up here in the common room to put up the posters...the Festival of Ghouls will be starting on October 30th! that's just a week away.... and it's compulsory for you to attend the Halloween Ball this year Harry... all Tri-Wizard Champions have to attend the Ball...with their dance-partners..." Hermione started off excitedly...at that moment.. Lodina Black, Sirius' daughter, stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room as well... Lodina was stunningly beautiful and had this mysterious aura around her... as she strode through the length of the common room to where Harry and the others were talking animatedly... the other Gryffindor boys had all cocked their heads in her direction... oggling at her jet black hair and beautiful dark brown eyes... it was no wonder Lodina had been getting all the attention of the boys in Hogwarts... The Black charm never grew old afterall... "Hey Lodina!" Ginny waved at her... beckoning her to join in the discussion... "But it's only open for fourth-years and above... " Hermione finished rattling off about the Halloween Ball... "What's only open to fourth-years and above Hermione?" Lodina had a look of curiosity on her face, which reminded Harry so much of Sirius...."Oh... Hi Lodina.. it's the Halloween Ball... it says here on the poster that only fourth-years and above can attend the Ball.. though if third-years and below are invited to the ball by their seniors, they would be able to come... " Hermione managed a smile to both Ginny and Lodina... who looked at each other and started giggling... "What are you girls soo giggly about? Seriously! I don't see what's soo great about this Ball.. a bunch of namby-pamby, wish-wosh ... just to satisfy girl-ish fantasies... don't you think so Harry? I don't think I'll be going... a whole bunch of Bull if you ask me..." Ron stopped short... as he heard Lavender Brown's stifled giggles behind him, as she walked past the group... "Ron... i think i know someone who might be interested in going with you to the Ball, mate... I'll give you a clue.. she giggles everytime she sees you and she just walked right past you... " Harry grinned... and he saw Ron go pink around his ears as he said this... "That was two clues Harry... and I'm not interested in her.. she's not my type...i think I'm more into Ravenclaw girls..." Ron said timidly..."Oh please... not that Fleur Delacour woman again?! Sorry to burst your bubble Ron... but i heard her in the Great Hall today... at breakfast... Roger Davies just asked her out to the Ball..." Hermione rolled her eyes... muttering "BOYS!" under her breath...."I'm not interested in her Hermione... I already told you i was over her... " Ron said soo softly that only Harry could hear him... Harry knew that he had to ask Ginny out to the Ball... seeing that it was afterall compulsory for him to attend the Ball and with a Dance partner at that... he felt the pressing need to act soon... Harry had just finshed unwrapping his last present from one of his so-called 'fans' when he turned to the portrait hole... ready to head down to the Potions Dungeon... he had Potions with the Slytherins first thing that day... and if there was anything worse than Malfoy and his Slytherin Guard hurling insults at him... it was the thought of doing detentions with Professor Snape for being late for his class... with that... Harry rushed out of the portrait hole and entered the Potions dungeon, for a morning of hell...
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The Festival of Ghouls had started off on Thursday, October the 30th... classes ended half a day early so that students and staff could get ready for the Feast in the Hall...Harry plonked himself down on the Gryffindor bench in the Great Hall... next to Hermione and Ron... and just at that moment.. the House Ghosts started filling into the hall... all dressed in their finest clothes... the school toad-choir begun singing.... and euphoria was in the air... almost everyone had gotten a dance partner for the Ball except Harry and Ron... he had to ask Ginny soon...VERY soon... "Ron... who are ya gonna ask to the Ball, mate?" Harry asked drearily...the thought of telling Ron that he wanted to date his younger sister was weighing heavily on his mind... he wasn't sure if Ron would take it well at all... "Oh... I already asked someone... but she's going with somone else ... so now... i'm left with Lavender i guess..." Ron sighed... "Come on Ron! Cheer up... at least you have Lavender... I haven't asked anyone yet!" Harry exclaimed... "oh! You can ask Hermione! I mean she's a girl right? I'm sure she hasn't got a date just as yet..." Ron smiled over at Harry... "I heard that Ron... just because it took you and Harry a good whole three and a half years to realise I'm a girl, doesn't mean others haven't taken notice... and no Harry... I can't go with you to the Ball... I'm going with someone else... " Hermione snapped as she returned to her copy of Quidditch Weekly-The Puddlemere United Edition..."Hermione... Tell us who you're going with! And how come you're always with a copy of Puddlemere United's clippings wherever you go? Is something up? Since when did you turn into an ardent quidditch fan? You escaped that question the other time... there's no escape now.. so spill!" Ron asked excitedly...but Hermione was spared as Ron's attention was soon drawn to Neville across the table...Peeves dropped a huge bowl of pudding on Neville's head... all of the students in the Great Hall had now turned their attention towards Neville and roared with laughter.... Undisturbed by what was happening, Harry thought that he should just go ahead and ask Ginny out to the Ball now... seeing that everyone else was distracted, thanks to Peeves... "Er... Ginny? Would you like to go to the Ball with me?" Harry managed a rather soft proposal... fortunately Ginny had heard him... but she avoided Harry's gaze ... "I'm really sorry Harry... I'm going with Dean Thomas... he asked me earlier today at breakfast.... I'm so sorry Harry..." Ginny bit her lip as she told Harry this, still avoiding to meet his gaze... "Oh.. that's alright.. I was thinking maybe we could go together... but it's alright... have fun with..." Before Harry could finish... he was cut off by Hermione... "Did you see Professor Mcgonagall? She's in a righ' state... she's absolutely ticked off at Peeves... oh he's gonna get it this time..." Hermione rambled on... Harry tried to find Ginny ... but it was too late... she had walked off to sit beside Lodina and they were chatting with the other third years in Gryffindor... Harry decided that it was best to leave it as it is.. and decided to turn in early... he excused himself from the Feast and started to head back up to the Gryffindor Common Room... What was he thinking? Surely he did not expect Ginny to agree to go to the Ball with him? She was afterall one of the most popular girls in school... But she did have a crush on Harry when he was in his second year... Harry sighed, feeling more down than usual... just before he reached the Common Room... he caught a glimpse of Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown ...'Oh well... I might as well ask Parvati ... Mcgonagall will kill me if i don't have a dance partner for tomorrow!' Harry thought and he motioned towards Parvati... as if on impulse... Lavender moved away and yelled over to Parvati, "I'll see you in the dorm!" and she crawled through the Portrait hole... "Er...Would you like to go to the Ball with me tomorrow Parvati?" Harry asked ... Parvati giggled slightly and said yes... Thank God! He would finally have a dance partner.. though it wasn't Ginny... Harry was downcast that evening and he didn't really mind who he was going with since Ginny had already turned him down.. and with that... Harry climbed through the Portrait hole and headed straight to his room... thinking of how it could have been if only he had gone to breakfast earlier and asked Ginny to the Ball before Dean... Harry stared out the window ... and after awhile... he fell asleep in his bed...
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The night of the Halloween Ball had come at last... Harry put on his bottle-green dress robes Mrs Weasley had bought for him in summer, and was waiting for Parvati Patil down in the Gryffindor Common Room... Ron soon followed suit in his red dress robes which matched the colour of his hair.... "Why do girls take an eternity to get dressed!! It's preposterous i tell ya! " Ron bellowed... obviously tweaked by the fact that Lavender was taking ages to get ready... at long last.. at about 10 minutes to eight... Lavender and Parvati met them in the Common Room... Lavender was wearing pale pink whilst Parvati was wearing lush green... and both the 'couples' set out for the Great Hall...
Once at the entrance, Harry, Ron, Lavender and Parvati were greeted by the shrieking sounds of the Weird Sisters, a popular band in the Wizarding world... Harry and Ron led the ladies to a cosy corner and offered to get drinks while they waited for the staff and the guests from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons to arrive ... "Where's Hermione? I haven't seen her all day! I wonder who she's with... she's being rather secretive don't you reckon, Harry? First with the Quidditch craze and now with this mysterious bloke who asked her out to the Ball... " Ron started while filling up the third glass of fruit punch...Just then, Ron let out an "Oh!" as if something had suddenly dawned upon him..."what if it's Krum, Harry? That would explain why Hermione's been acting strange... I mean.. Krum was going to play for Puddlemere in the coming season! It makes sense Harry! Oh that Hermione! Why didn't she tell us it was Krum?" Ron started again when Harry cut him off... "Coz' it wasn't Krum, Ron... Look who just stepped into the Hall..." At that.. Ron spun around only to get a glimpse of Hermione... in a beautiful periwinkle blue dress... her hair tied up very elegantly... Hermione looked really pretty without all those extra books and heavy bags she would be otherwise lugging around... and she was accompanied by none other than... "Oliver Wood? Oliver Wood asked Hermione out? B-but... how can that be?" Ron stammered... "Actually Ron.. Now it makes perfect sense.. Wood signed on to the Puddlemere United Team just a few months ago... just when Hermione started taking interest in Quidditch... " Harry said as he filled the last glass of fruit punch..."We probably should be getting back to the girls.. they'd be wondering where we've gotten to..." Harry and Ron walked back to where Lavender and Parvati were sitting... in disbelief... Oliver Wood and Hermione? well that would certainly break a lot of girls' hearts... seeing that Oliver Wood was quite a heart throb... Harry glanced over at the Slytherins... who were joined shortly by the Durmstrang students... Harry looked over at Krum, who was eyeing Hermione intently... Strange... Harry thought... "Here are the drinks girls..." Ron said importantly as he placed the drinks down... Harry turned his gaze to Malfoy and Iman... Pansy Parkinson was fawning all over Draco as usual and Iman was without a girl... no surprises there... though Iman was looking at Pansy with lust ... Harry could see it in his eyes and the way he smiled...it was as if Iman was admiring Pansy from a distance... the mere thought of that made Harry shudder... "You alright Harry? You look like you're in a daze... oh look! The Staff has arrived... i think we should go up to the front stage then Harry.. the Champions are making they're way up there already..." Parvati suggested... "W-what?... oh right.. yea.. let's go... We'll be back soon Ron, Lavender..." Harry led Parvati to the front of the Hall... He stood next to Draco and Pansy.. he didn't particularly like this... standing anywhere within a 10 metre radius of Malfoy was enough to make Harry feel annoyed...Fleur and Roger Davies were on Harry's other side... and beside them stood Krum and Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker... "Hello everyone! I'm glad soo many of you could make it to the Halloween Ball.. well.. I shan't keep you waiting.. so let the music start playing and let's let our hair down!" Professor Dumbledore spoke and the Weird Sisters started playing another mournful song..."Harry lets dance! I love this song!" Parvati said as she pulled Harry to the dancefloor...Just then Harry caught a glimpse of Ginny... she was with Dean Thomas... and they were talking excitedly with Lodina and Seamus Finnigan... Harry figured that Seamus had asked Lodina to the Ball... the four of them were sitting on the table next to Ron... and they were very deep in conversation... Ginny wore a red dress which brought out the colour of her beautiful red hair... she looked hot and sassy in her outfit and as Harry's mind wandered on how lovely Ginny had looked that night... he completely forgot to pay attention to his dancing... and accidentally stepped on Parvati's foot... "Ow!" Parvati squealed... "Oops.... I'm so sorry.. dancing isn't really my kind of thing..." Harry said as he tried to cover up his tracks... but unknown to him... Draco Malfoy was dancing behind them as well... Pansy thought that he had also been acting rather queer that evening... but decided not to bring that up... as it might ruin the chance she had finally gotten to be with Draco the entire evening... "Pansy Darling... Do you mind if we take a break... this music's not doing my talent in Salsa any justice..." Draco said as he whisked Pansy away to a seat near Ginny, Dean, Seamus and Lodina... Draco had his mind elsewhere as well... how could he have missed such a beauty in Hogwarts... how could he not have noticed her before? She was slender and looked ravishing in her beautiful black dress... Draco noticed that most of the boys in the Hall were also looking in her direction and drooling absent-mindedly over her beauty... what did she see in that Irish twit she was with anyway, when she could be better off with him? Besides... they would make a really good-looking couple too... But how can he shake off Pansy? If only he could get an opening... just one chance... to woo Lodina...
[Tonks was grooving to Usher's Caught Up | 
~ workaholic]
~Nymphadora~
~ workaholic]