It was Harry, Ron and Hermione's fifth year at Hogwarts. It was near
Valentines Day and so far nothing new had been said about the upcoming
dance. The trio was hastily making their way down through one of the
deserted corridors. They were already late for Dumbledore's speech, in
which Dumbledore was planning on telling everyone more about the dance.
"Do you know how ridiculous we're going to look, interrupting the whole school while Dumbledore's presenting his speech," Hermione growled, eyeing Ron.
"What? Why are you glaring at me! It wasn't my fault that Snape made us scrub all the cauldrons! I swear I didn't know that Neville had handed me newt gizzard instead of snake skin," said Ron defensively.
"Honestly, couldn't you tell gizzard from snake sk-
"Will you two please shut up? I'm going to open the door on the count of three. We walk in like nothings going on, alright?" Harry watched as his two friend nodded in agreement.
"One, two, and three.."
The first thing the trio saw was a mass of students everywhere. Most were standing, having intense conversations with one another. The rest were sitting quietly or arguing loudly.
"What the bloody hell! What kind of speech is this?" Ron made his way toward Fred and George. Harry and Hermione trailed behind.
"Fred, George, do you have any idea what's going on," asked Ron.
George looked disgruntled. "You three have missed a lot! So far Dumbledore has told us that we're having the dance but it's going to be completely different from the Yule ball-"
"Let me take it from there George, anyway since a lot of students complained about how stressful the last ball was, Dumbledore has decided that he's going to take all the pressure off this time-"
"What's that supposed to mean." interjected Hermione.
"I'm getting there; anyway Dumbledore just told us that we're not going to be picking partners this year! Instead he's getting the sorting hat to do just that!"
"Won't that make everything easier," commented Harry.
"Yeah, if you don't care who your partner is! I already had Angelina lined up!"
"Quiet Fred, Dumbledore's coming!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats as well as everyone else in the great hall.
"Sorry it took so long. The Sorting hat was in a deep slumber and had to be awakened. First I will go into more detail about this ball or dance as some of the students are saying. I highly doubt there will be too much dancing. When your name is called you will put on the sorting hat and the sorting hat will call out the name of the person with whom you will be spending your Valentine's Day Festival with-"
"What type of festival is it going to be?" Someone called out.
"The festival is going to be a surprise. The ceremony will start on the 10th of February. Anyone who is not familiar with their partner will be able to familiarize in preparation for the Valentines Day Festival. That is all for now, the sorting hat will start with names. Abbott, you're first on the list."
The Sorting Hat started shouting out names. Groans seemed to be multiplying as each person put on the sorting hat.
"Ronald Weasley, get up here immediately," Professor McGonagall shouted. She was reading through the names on the list like it was a novel. Already there was a line in front of the stage.
Ron looked at Harry and Hermione with that "Please help me god" look and then hurried toward the stage.
Ron sat uncomfortably on the small wooden stool. Everyone else was waiting in anticipation for the sorting hat to call a name. Finally the sorting hat had come to a conclusion.
"Pansy Parkinson," boomed the sorting hat.
Ron stepped down from the stage where the sorting hat was placed. Head bowed, he headed straight for the Gryffindor table but then took a right and exited out of the Great Hall.
"God, I hope I don't get someone like that!" Hermione shivered just thinking of the thought of being paired with Malfoy.
"Next, Harry Potter!"
"Good luck," Hermione said as Harry left the Gryffindor table. He walked up to the stage and placed the hat on his head.
"Ah, who is it we have here. Harry Potter again! Hmm. Who should your partner be? I see, how about someone different, perhaps a nice Ravenclaw girl. I think I found the one for you Mr. Potter!"
Harry gulped. He waited for what seemed like forever. This situation reminded him of the exact one when the sorting hat had decided what house he was to be placed in.
"Hermione Granger," shouted the sorting hat.
That was one thing he wasn't ready for. He was expecting some snobby Slytherin girl. He was surprised it was actually someone he knew, especially a friend. This wouldn't be too hard now. Harry walked down from the stage exchanging glances with a nervous Neville who was now walking up the steps of the stage.
If Harry had been paying closer attention to his partner at the time, he would have noticed that she had turned two shades of red.
"Do you know how ridiculous we're going to look, interrupting the whole school while Dumbledore's presenting his speech," Hermione growled, eyeing Ron.
"What? Why are you glaring at me! It wasn't my fault that Snape made us scrub all the cauldrons! I swear I didn't know that Neville had handed me newt gizzard instead of snake skin," said Ron defensively.
"Honestly, couldn't you tell gizzard from snake sk-
"Will you two please shut up? I'm going to open the door on the count of three. We walk in like nothings going on, alright?" Harry watched as his two friend nodded in agreement.
"One, two, and three.."
The first thing the trio saw was a mass of students everywhere. Most were standing, having intense conversations with one another. The rest were sitting quietly or arguing loudly.
"What the bloody hell! What kind of speech is this?" Ron made his way toward Fred and George. Harry and Hermione trailed behind.
"Fred, George, do you have any idea what's going on," asked Ron.
George looked disgruntled. "You three have missed a lot! So far Dumbledore has told us that we're having the dance but it's going to be completely different from the Yule ball-"
"Let me take it from there George, anyway since a lot of students complained about how stressful the last ball was, Dumbledore has decided that he's going to take all the pressure off this time-"
"What's that supposed to mean." interjected Hermione.
"I'm getting there; anyway Dumbledore just told us that we're not going to be picking partners this year! Instead he's getting the sorting hat to do just that!"
"Won't that make everything easier," commented Harry.
"Yeah, if you don't care who your partner is! I already had Angelina lined up!"
"Quiet Fred, Dumbledore's coming!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their seats as well as everyone else in the great hall.
"Sorry it took so long. The Sorting hat was in a deep slumber and had to be awakened. First I will go into more detail about this ball or dance as some of the students are saying. I highly doubt there will be too much dancing. When your name is called you will put on the sorting hat and the sorting hat will call out the name of the person with whom you will be spending your Valentine's Day Festival with-"
"What type of festival is it going to be?" Someone called out.
"The festival is going to be a surprise. The ceremony will start on the 10th of February. Anyone who is not familiar with their partner will be able to familiarize in preparation for the Valentines Day Festival. That is all for now, the sorting hat will start with names. Abbott, you're first on the list."
The Sorting Hat started shouting out names. Groans seemed to be multiplying as each person put on the sorting hat.
"Ronald Weasley, get up here immediately," Professor McGonagall shouted. She was reading through the names on the list like it was a novel. Already there was a line in front of the stage.
Ron looked at Harry and Hermione with that "Please help me god" look and then hurried toward the stage.
Ron sat uncomfortably on the small wooden stool. Everyone else was waiting in anticipation for the sorting hat to call a name. Finally the sorting hat had come to a conclusion.
"Pansy Parkinson," boomed the sorting hat.
Ron stepped down from the stage where the sorting hat was placed. Head bowed, he headed straight for the Gryffindor table but then took a right and exited out of the Great Hall.
"God, I hope I don't get someone like that!" Hermione shivered just thinking of the thought of being paired with Malfoy.
"Next, Harry Potter!"
"Good luck," Hermione said as Harry left the Gryffindor table. He walked up to the stage and placed the hat on his head.
"Ah, who is it we have here. Harry Potter again! Hmm. Who should your partner be? I see, how about someone different, perhaps a nice Ravenclaw girl. I think I found the one for you Mr. Potter!"
Harry gulped. He waited for what seemed like forever. This situation reminded him of the exact one when the sorting hat had decided what house he was to be placed in.
"Hermione Granger," shouted the sorting hat.
That was one thing he wasn't ready for. He was expecting some snobby Slytherin girl. He was surprised it was actually someone he knew, especially a friend. This wouldn't be too hard now. Harry walked down from the stage exchanging glances with a nervous Neville who was now walking up the steps of the stage.
If Harry had been paying closer attention to his partner at the time, he would have noticed that she had turned two shades of red.