The Yule Ball: A Dance with Destiny

"My guess is that when you cast the spell you use your magic to create the white mist that can either form a shield or a true Patronus. But the mist disappears if you don't have focus on a good emotion, so the spell can't work unless you can get both parts to work together. Does that make sense?"

"That's brilliant, Potter! What you're saying is that while magic creates the mist it is the emotion that maintains and shapes it, right?" At her simplified explanation Harry's face lit up.

"Exactly. I wasn't sure how to explain it, but that is what I was trying to say." Harry replied happily. "So, do you think you are ready to try it? The wand motion doesn't really matter, and the incantation is 'Expecto Patronum'."

"I'll try, but I doubt it will work. I'm having trouble coming up with a good enough memory to trigger the emotion."

"The hardest part is getting it to work the first time. After that you don't have to doubt whether or not you can do it because you know you already have. Try it anyway."

"Here goes nothing…" Daphne responded. Harry watched as she let her arm fall to her side and she closed her eyes in concentration. For a few minutes she stood very still, trying to recreate a happy feeling. Suddenly her eyes popped open and she raised her wand calling out the incantation. The white mist leapt from her wand and she struggled while trying to hold it together. After a few seconds the mist evaporated and she lowered her wand with a disappointed look on her face.

"That was great!" Harry called out, surprising her. "I'm serious, that was much better than my first try. I could barely get any mist at all. You just need to improve your focus on the emotion and then you'll have it."

"I hope so." she said thoughtfully. "Potter, why is your Patronus a deer?"

"My dad was an animagus, and that was his form. It's nice to have something that connects us, you know? Even if it is something little like that." Daphne nodded in silent understanding. "We'll find out what your Patronus is soon, too." he added to brighten the mood.

"I wonder what it will be." she said, considering the possibilities. Realizing there was no way of knowing until she was able to cast the spell correctly, she sighed and gave up. "Thanks for the lesson. I guess I better go, but we can keep working on this right?"

"Sure. Just be sure to think about a good memory, one with strong emotions attached to it. Good night, Greengrass." Daphne smiled at him and walked out of the room, leaving him to continue his training. Harry felt a little sad to see her go, but was soon turning his focus back to the spells he had planned on reviewing.

...

A few days later Professor McGonagall scheduled a meeting to make an announcement to all of the Gryffindors. Similar announcements were being made by the heads of the other three houses. During lunch almost the entire school had been busy discussing what the announcement could possibly be, but no one had yet been able to forward an idea that convinced the others. To Harry, the excitement over the announcement was a welcome change. It had been almost a week since the article in the Daily Prophet calling him either insane or a dark wizard had come out and since then he had received distrustful looks from almost all of the student body. Harry tried to ignore it, and this time it was easier than when he had received similar treatment two years ago after rumors that he was the heir of Slytherin had spread. At first he had been angry at their reactions, but that anger quickly dulled to annoyance and then to indifference. After all, did he not have friends that would stick by him? True, there were not many of them but that did not really matter. And so Harry went on with his life, trying to do the best he could in school training his hardest so that he could survive the year. He just hoped McGonagall's announcement wasn't more bad news for him.

"Harry! Over here, we saved you a seat." Harry heard a voice call out as he entered the room. He looked over and realized that the voice belonged to Neville who was waving him towards an empty seat between him and Hermione. It was a good thing they had saved him a seat, he realized, because every other one was already taken even though the meeting was not supposed to start for another ten minutes.

"Thanks guys." Harry said while taking his seat. Looking around the room he spotted Ron talking with Seamus and Dean, looking somewhat bored. The other two male, fourth year, Gryffindors were nice enough but Harry had never really gotten to know them well. They seemed to share Ron's love of Quidditch but were definitely not fans of the Cannons, Ron's favorite team. Truthfully, Harry enjoyed playing Quidditch and even talking about strategy with his teammates but he always found long conversations about professional Quidditch annoying. 'Maybe Ron is better off with them as friends.' he considered.

"Harry, I was wondering if I could help you prepare for the next task." Hermione said, drawing his attention away from Ron. "I should have been there with you before the first task, but I was hoping I could start to make up for that."

"Sure Hermione. As soon as we figure out what the clue is I am sure your help would be great."

"Oh, so you and Neville are already working on the getting the clue?" Hermione asked, noting that Harry had said 'as soon as we figure out…'

"Harry hasn't asked for my help yet, Hermione. I would like to help too, if you think I could." Neville added.

"Of course, Neville. I really appreciated all you did helping me prepare last time." Harry said sincerely.

"Right, and then you went and did something completely different!" Neville laughed. "That was a great idea though, who would have thought to use parseltongue to speak to a dragon?"

"Wait, if you aren't working with Neville who are you working with?" Hermione questioned. Harry knew he must have let something slip, but clearly she still had no idea he was working with Daphne. It was too late to deny he was getting help from someone else, so he decided the best idea was to stall.

"I'll tell you Hermione, I promise. But not today."

"Ok, Harry. I am going to hold you to that promise." Hermione responded, clearly unhappy with Harry's answer. Harry wished he could have just told her about Daphne, but he was not willing to do that until Daphne said it was ok. If word got out that they were friends there would be consequences, and they would be worse for her than for him. Harry hated that, and wanted nothing more than to be able to protect her.

"Attention! Attention, everyone!" Professor McGonagall called from the front of the room. The assembled students immediately quieted and turned to listen to their Head of House. "I am pleased to announce that Hogwarts will host an event traditionally associated with the Triwizard Tournament, the Yule Ball." At this several voices, almost all female, began whispering with excitement and anticipation. "Students from fourth year and up are welcome to attend, while other activities will be scheduled for third years and younger. Further information will be posted on the bulletin boards in the common room. This event is first and foremost a ball, which means that there will be dancing." Several groans were heard in response to this.

"I think it would be better for everyone if I avoided the dance floor," Harry told Hermione with a laugh "Everyone's feet will be safer that way." Unfortunately for Harry, that was not going to be possible. For the next few minutes McGonagall continued to talk to them about the ball and everything that would accompany it. Even Harry had to admit it sounded like a fun time.

"Mr Potter, could you stay after?" Professor McGonagall asked as the rest of the students were dismissed. Harry sighed, guessing that he was not going to like what was to come. Once everyone else had left Harry walked to the front of the room where McGonagall was waiting. "It has long been a tradition for the Triwizard champions and their dates to open the ball with the ceremonial first dance. You will be expected to do the same."

"First dance? Date?" Harry said, trying to take in what he had heard. Professor McGonagall merely chuckled at his predicament.

"Mr Potter, despite what the Daily Prophet has been writing about you I doubt you will have any problem finding a girl willing to be your date for the evening. Do try and learn to dance well enough not to embarrass yourself."

"Yes, Professor. I'll try." Harry answered, wondering what he was going to do about the ball. Harry turned and walked out of the room to find Neville and Hermione waiting for him. They were both curious as to what Professor McGonagall wanted, but Neville was able to conceal his interest much better than Hermione.

"So, what did she say?" his bushy haired friend asked.

"Apparently the champions have to dance at the beginning of the ball with our dates. Meaning I not only need to learn to dance but I have to find someone willing to go to the ball with an insane dark lord." His friends laughed at his predicament, resulting in angry glares for both of them.

"Cheer up, Harry. You've faced a dragon, you can face this." Neville said encouragingly.

"And are you really saying that there is no one you want to ask?" Hermione questioned. Immediately the image of Daphne's face flashed in his mind, but he wasn't sure asking her to the ball would be a good idea. While he thought about it Hermione grinned knowingly. "So there is someone. You should ask them Harry, the worst that could happen is they say no." Harry nodded in agreement with her statement, still not sure if he would do it or not.

"I'll think about it, Hermione." Harry promised. To his surprise, for the rest of the day he found there was little else he could get his mind to focus on other than that.

....

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