Well of Shadows
Of Balls and Balconies
By Ruskbyte
Chapter Four
~ Of Balls and Balconies ~
Peeves was proving to be as annoying as ever, and Harry was sorely tempted to do the poltergeist an injury. The pesky creature had been rather quiet the previous year, aside from his normal routine
of molesting the first-years and dropping water balloons on unsuspecting students. Apparently he had decided to make up for lost time and had been waiting for them in the Entrance Hall.
"YEE-HAH-HAH!!"
Somehow the little bow-tied man had come into the possession of about fifty billiard-sized metal balls, all polished to a mirror finish and enchanted, probably by Fred and George, to act like very bouncy rubber balls. Naturally, the first thing he did with them was practice his aim as the students entered the castle.
By the time Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione got inside the castle from the horseless carriage they had been riding in, total chaos was the best way to describe the scene inside the Entrance Hall.
"WOO-HOO-HOO!!"
Dozens of the balls were rocketing about the place, smacking into students or bouncing off the walls as bright and shiny blurs. The students were ducking left and right, jumping over each other, as they tried to cross the room and reach the safety of the Great Hall. Peeves was drifting amidst the bedlam, picking up any of the balls that had rolled to a stop and hurling them back into the fray with a demented cackle.
"Now I know what it feels like inside a pinball machine," observed Hermione, hiding behind Ron as a ball shot past, ricocheting off a suit of armour and almost hitting Morag MacDougal on the rebound.
"A what machine?" asked Ron, shielding his face with his arms while at the same time trying to observe the proceedings.
Harry shook his head and waved for his friends to crowd round him. "Never mind that. Let's just try get through this mess. I don't feel like visiting the Hospital Wing on my first day back."
"HAHA-HEHE-HOHO!!"
They had made it almost halfway across the Entrance Hall, protected by a combined Shield Charm from both Harry and Ginny, when something caught Harry's eye. Or rather someone.
Pansy Parkinson, looking very unkempt at the moment, was slowly bearing down on Peeves. The poltergeist was tossing one of the shiny balls up and down in his hand, delighting in the mayhem he was causing and completely unaware of Pansy's approach. Had he seen the way she was stalking towards him, not to mention the slightly crazed gleam in her eyes, Peeves would maybe have stood a chance. As it was he was blissfully ignorant of what was about to transpire.
With a bizarre spring in her step, Pansy got right up next to Peeves, her demented eyes fixed firmly on the metal globe he was toying with. As she drew alongside him, Peeves spotted her and grinned wickedly at her. His grin swiftly faded as he became aware of her distracted fascination with the ball in his hand.
"Aw... does the ickle girly like the shiny bauble?" he asked, his grin returning as Pansy tilted her head to one side and watched as the polished ball rose up and down in the air. Fast as a cobra she struck, opening her mouth wide and snapping her head forward.
"EEEEEAAAARRRGGH!!! GET HER OFF ME! GET HER OFF ME! GEROFF!!"
Harry watched, along with his friends, in complete amazement and disbelief as Pansy sank her teeth into Peeves' hand with all the tenacity of a pit-bull. Peeves had dropped the ball he had been playing with and was desperately trying to pull free, but Pansy had latched onto his palm with a death grip.
"What. The. Fu-" Ron began to ask.
"She still thinks she's an ostrich," deduced Hermione, cutting her boyfriend off before he said something she would have to make him regret. Watching as Peeves jerked around and around in circles, dragging Pansy with him, she explained, "Ostriches are attracted to shiny objects, just like a magpie."
"LET GO OF ME! GEROFF! LET GO! LEGGO! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
Harry looked from the panicking Peeves to Hermione. "You mean she was trying to get at Peeve's balls? What for, as a snack?"
Hermione shrugged and shook her head. "Looks like it."
Harry turned his attention back to the struggling Peeves, whose attempts to liberate himself from Pansy’s clamped jaws were becoming progressively more frantic with each passing second. Ginny... did you know this was going to happen?
~No. In fact, I don't have the faintest idea how it happened in the first place.~
*Transfiguring a person without a wand sometimes has... interesting side-effects,* suggested Isis, although Harry could hear the laughter in her voice.
Interesting. That's one way of putting it.
With a screeching wail, that sounded more fitting for a damned soul than a misfit poltergeist, Peeves took off. Pansy, still biting down on his hand, was lifted into the air with him, rising towards the roof at an alarming rate.
"GEROFF! GEROFF! GEROFF! GEROFF! GEROFF! GEROFF!"
With a thick slurping sound Peeves disappeared through the roof of the Entrance Hall, escaping the clenched jaws of Pansy only because she could not duplicate the feat. For a short instant the Slytherin ostrich, er, girl, hung suspended by the ceiling. Then, no longer supported by Peeves' efforts to escape her, Pansy dropped down like a stone.
"Wha? Oh, shiiiii..."
Fortunately one of the Ravenclaws, a fifth-year named Raine, had enough presence of mind to cast a quick levitation charm on the falling girl. It was a little late in its execution, but it was enough to slow Pansy's fall enough that she wasn't hurt, although her pride undoubtedly suffered a severe bruising.
"...iiiiit!!"
With a thump Pansy landed in a heap, her black robes flipped up so that her head was hidden beneath them. Her arms and legs flailed about, causing her robes to flap around her before she managed to free her head and glare murderously at Ginny.
"Weasley! This is all your fault!"
Ginny returned Pansy's glare with one of her own. Harry hid a smile as Ginny began to protest her innocence in the matter, managing to sound thoroughly outraged at Pansy's accusation. "My fault? And how pray tell do you think that? You're the one that bit Peeves. All we did was stand here and watch."
And perhaps transfigure her into an ostrich yesterday?
~Be quiet, you.~
I didn't say a word.
*Not that you need to.*
~Be quiet, all of you!~
Parkinson was being helped to her feet by a bewildered-looking Millicent Bulstrode. Once the much-reputed queen-bitch of Slytherin was able to stand up unassisted, she did not bother to attempt any reply, settling for a scathing glare and storming off in a huff.
"Good thing you didn't turn her into a cow," commented Harry as they watch her leave.
"Why?" asked Ginny, "she’s already a cow. The only difference would be if she started eating grass."
Entering the Great Hall and walking in the direction of the Gryffindor table, Harry shook his head and smirked wickedly. "Perhaps, but I shudder to think what would happen if she were to go around look for somebody to milk her..."
Perusing the teachers sitting at the staff table as they walked, Harry noted that there were a good number of empty seats waiting to be filled. There was Hagrid's seat, as well as Professor McGonagall's, since both were busy attending to the first-years. Even more interesting was Snape's seat, which was also empty.
There were two unaccountably empty seats, which Harry could only conclude as being for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, who would be replacing Remus Lupin. Although why there were two seats instead of just one, Harry did not know.
A blinding flare of light greeted them as they drew near the Gryffindor table, and Harry had to grit his teeth and force himself to retain his smile. Sitting at the other end of the table, his face half hidden behind his camera, was the ever enthusiastic Colin Creevey. Lowering his camera, Harry's most ardent admirer grinned and waved happily.
"Hey there, Harry!"
"Hi, Colin," Harry replied, dropping into his seat and trying not to roll his eyes. Taking the seat next to him, Ginny ran her hand across his shoulders in commiseration. Before Harry could comment to her about his feelings regarding his adoring fan, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington emerged through the middle of the tabletop.
"Salutations, my young friends," he said, smiling broadly as he slowly drifted out of the table.
Hermione answered for all of them, "Hello, Sir Nick. Have a good summer?"
Nick nodded, resulting in his head flopping listlessly to one side. "As good as can be expected my dear. I did have to put up with Peeves' shenanigans the whole while, unfortunately.
The conversation, revolving around the castle's resident poltergeist continued for several minutes, with contributions from Ron, Dean and Neville. By the time Seamus and Moira joined them, it was nearly time for the Sorting ceremony to begin. Everyone quieted down as the colossal oak doors swung open, and Professor McGonagall entered, leading the mass of jumpy looking first-years.
"Were we ever that small?" asked Ron in astonishment, shaking his head as the group of tiny boys and girls trudged past them to stand nervously in front of the staff table.
"I don't know about us," replied Dean, "but Harry certainly was."
Harry was about to retort, but couldn't when Hermione shushed the two boys with a ferocious glare that she could have only learned from Molly Weasley. She managed to shut them up just in time for Professor McGonagall to reverently set the ancient Sorting Hat down on the stool that had been set up on the stage.
The first years looked at the hat, clearly wondering just what they were supposed to do with a decrepit and raggedy old piece of cloth. Harry smiled softly, remembering with perfect clarity his own sorting, so many years ago. After several long and quiet moments passed, during which the first years shifted about nervously, the Sorting Hat's brim opened and it began to sing.
~Hickory dickory bat,
There once was a Hogwarts Sorting Hat.~
Harry blinked in consternation and turned to gawk at Ginny, who was sitting next to him and watching the sorting with an expression of such angelic innocence that Harry almost started laughing.
~It's a ragged piece of cloth,
And it doesn't have a name,
But that doesn't matter,
Because your future's its game...~
Swallowing his hilarity, Harry turned back to watch as the Sorting Hat sang. Everyone else in the Great Hall was listening raptly, but Harry's was so distracted by Ginny's own silent song that he did not hear a word the Sorting Hat uttered.
~There is no need to fear,
For the Sorting Hat will find,
What place, what house to put you in,
It's all inside your mind...~
It was a struggle to keep his features from contorting into an idiotic smile, but somehow Harry managed. Out the corner of his eye he could see Ginny watching him, the ghost of a sly smile traced upon her cerise coloured lips, as she silent sang her own lyrics to him.
~For those that are brave at heart,
Gryffindor's where you'll be,
You can outfight, out-swear and out-drink anyone,
Including the likes of me!~
When the various members of the Order of the Phoenix started to join in, singing very off key, it was all Harry could do not to drop his face into his hands and start howling with laughter.
*When you're diligent and loyal,
Then a Hufflepuff you surely are,
There'll be blood, sweat and toil,
While you follow your star...*
If possible it actually got worse when some of the more heavily accented voices joined together in an incomprehensible cacophony. It reminded Harry of a noisy breakfast in the Dursley house, with Vernon bellowing, Petunia screeching and Dudley braying all at once.
*If you value knowledge above all else,
Then Ravenclaw's where you'll be set,
Learning things both great and small,
That's a sure bet...*
The last verse was delivered solely by Ginny, who was now sporting an impish grin as she sidled up against Harry at the table. Careful not to draw anyone's attention she slipped her hand into his and gave a squeeze, causing him to look into her twinkling coffee brown eyes.
~For slimy gits that like to sneak,
Slytherin shall be your home,
'Cause you're horrid little buggers,
And are rotten to the bone!~
Once the song was over and the Sorting Hat, as well as Ginny, fell silent a round of applause was given by all in the hall, more perfunctory than anything else. Not that anyone would admit it. The only true exception this time was Harry, who lavished silent praise upon Ginny, who graced him with a regal nod as the ovation tapered off.
Professor McGonagall moved from her place at the side and stood tall next to the four-legged stool and that Sorting Hat. From within her robes she produced a long roll of parchment, which she held before her as she spoke.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said, peering at the queasy looking first-years over the rims of her glasses. "Ambrose, Nicholas!"
As the sorting continued, Harry turned to Ginny and shook his head. "Circe's liver, Gin, you almost made me split my sides laughing during the song."
Ginny smiled and leaned in to quickly kiss his cheek. "Unfortunately I can't take any credit for it. The entire song was Fred and George's work."
I'm surprised they didn't dare you to do something stupid - like charm the Sorting Hat to sing that instead of what it was supposed to.
~They tried,~ admitted Ginny, watching as 'Debenham, Mary' became the first new Gryffindor. The diminutive brown haired girl joined the table to a round of applause as Ginny continued, ~Unfortunately we couldn't work out how to get to the hat before McGonagall brought it out.~
"You're incorrigible," concluded Harry.
"You wouldn't have me any other way, would you?"
"Never."
"Endean, Richard!" called McGonagall.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Fargo, Amber!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
This continued for some time, McGonagall calling out names, the Sorting Hat calling out houses. Harry dutifully applauded as each new Gryffindor was chosen and happily greeted the relieved children as they joined them at the table. Midway through the sorting he glanced across the Great Hall and saw that Malfoy was watching him with hooded eyes, a thin smile on his lips. It was an unnerving occurrence, though Harry did not point it out to the others.
Eventually McGonagall finished reading through the list of new students, ending with 'Zulberg, Trevor'. After the deputy headmistress packed away the stool and the Sorting Hat, Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat to give his beginning of year speech.
"Greetings one and all," he intoned pleasantly, looking over the assembled students with a benevolent smile. "It is always a pleasure to see so many old faces, as well as so many new ones, at the start of yet another year of learning. I have a few beginning of term notices to make before we commence with the wonderful banquet that has been prepared for us."
Harry laughed softly as he noticed Ron's grimace. His friend would much rather have dug into his food first and then listened to the announcements. Considering that Ron had somehow managed to grow another couple of inches and fill out a good bit as well, Harry could understand his slight impatience to begin eating.
"Firstly, since it has proved so popular these last two years, Hogwarts will once again be hosting a Yule Ball during the Christmas holidays. Unlike previous years, however, this year the ball shall be held on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day."
"Oh joy," groaned Harry, slumping in his seat.
"What's wrong, Harry?" asked Ginny, looking at him with concern.
Harry sighed. "Considering what happened at the last Yule Ball - I'm really not feeling all that enthusiastic for the event."
Ginny smiled sadly and took his hand in hers. "It'll be all right, Harry. I mean, what are the odds that Tom will attack on Christmas two years in a row?"
D'you really want me to answer that?
"As always," continued Dumbledore, after waiting for the news about the ball to sink in, "I must inform you that the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden to all students. The neighbouring village of Hogsmeade is likewise out of bounds to those under third year."
This time, for some inexplicable reason, the headmaster turned his sparkling blue eyes towards Harry. Harry, knowing full well why, grinned back and shrugged.
"Finally I would like to announce two, three actually, changes to our staff this year. Professor Jones, who has retired to work on a dig in Egypt, has been replaced as our Professor of Ancient Runes, by Miss Fleur Delacour."
A tumultuous standing ovation came from the students. Actually, truth be told, it was a standing ovation that came from most of the male students. Only Harry, Ron and a few other prudent young men, remained seated and restrained themselves to a polite applause — thus earning themselves pleased smiles from their significant others. Fleur, as beautiful as always, gracefully rose from her seat and graced the students with a charming smile and a wave.
Harry, taking a quick look at the Slytherin table, noticed that Malfoy was completely unaffected by Fleur’s Veela charms. In fact, and this highly disturbed Harry, he seemed to scarcely moved since the last time Harry had seen him. His cold grey eyes were unwaveringly focused on Harry alone.
"With Professor Lupin deciding to leave us for a sabbatical, the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts has been filled this year by a married couple, Gregory and Hilary Proteus, who come to us highly recommended." Dumbledore's moustache gave a twitch of amusement. "I have been informed that they have only just arrived in Hogsmeade and are currently being escorted to the castle by Professor Snape."
"Is he off his rocker?" asked Ron. "Snape will probably kill them before they even reach the school grounds."
"I have discovered over the years that it is very easy to be wise. All you have to do is; think of something stupid to say and merely say the opposite." Dumbledore grinned boyishly at them all and lifted his goblet in a toast. "That said, let's dig in!"
Food immediately sprang into being on the table. All of Harry's favourite dishes were there; roast beef and chicken, lamb chops and sausages, steaks and ribs, roast potatoes and chips, several kinds of fish, mounds of crisp veggies and, as with every meal for some unfathomable explanation, mint humbugs. Harry suspected that this was probably Dumbledore’s work, but had yet to find any proof.
Everyone immediately set about following Dumbledore's advice and did indeed dig in, piling food onto their plates. Harry watched with some amusement as Ron almost vanished from view behind the mountain of food he stacked in front of himself. The damnedest thing was that the ever-growing redhead would probably finish it all before anyone else did. And then, no doubt, he would start consuming a second helping and after that probably a third as well.
"Good food, good meat, good God, let's eat!" declared Moira enthusiastically, attacking her dinner with a relish that could almost have matched Ron's. In fact her gusto was probably more impressive since Moira was, despite being in her third year, easily one of the smallest people at the table, including the first years.
"Where do they put it all?" asked Hermione, looking from Ron to Moira and back in amazement.
Harry shook his head. "I think they must have swallowed bottomless pits when they were younger."
A couple of minutes later the doors to the Great Hall swung open. Professor Snape was standing at the threshold. He had the air of a man who had been in a tremendous hurry, but who had been stopped in mid-rush by something, or someone, he could not fully understand.
"The new Defence Against the Dark Arts professors have arrived, Headmaster," he said after taking a moment to visibly compose himself. The look on his face was, oddly enough, not the one of glaring abhorrence that he usually held in reserve for whoever drew the position. In its place he wore a look that was almost dazed, perhaps even traumatised.
Everyone was watching closely as the two newcomers crossed the threshold into the hall, brushing past Snape without sparing him so much as a sideways glance. They were so engrossed in their conversation, spoken just loud enough for everyone to hear, that they did not notice the reaction their entrance caused.
Waving her arms about in obvious agitation was a stately young woman with shimmering golden hair and bright hazel eyes. From what Dumbledore had said this could only be Hilary Proteus, who was ranting at the man who was clearly her husband, "-believe you're still going on about that one little mistake-"
"Mistake?! Little?!" interrupted Gregory Proteus, staring incredulously at his wife with wide, sea-green eyes. He ran both hands through his rich, yet untidy, mahogany hair and exclaimed, "You threw me off the hotel balcony!"
"At least there was a pool below..." offered Hilary, looking slightly chagrined.
"You didn't know that!"
"It was an accident!" insisted the flustered woman.
Gregory gave her a fierce look. "An accident?! We were on the seventeenth floor!"
Hilary protested in defence, "I was drunk on champagne - what did you expect?"
"It was the fourth day of our honeymoon. I know what I was expecting." He held up a finger and wagged it at her in a negative manner. "That wasn't it."
A blush rose to the woman's cheeks, visible even from where Harry was sitting. She shook her head and replied, "At least you weren't hurt."
"Hotel security arrested me!"
Everyone present in the Great Hall, teachers, students and ghosts, was watching the two quarrelling with dreadful fascination. Surprise wasn't sufficient to describe the reactions of those watching. Astonishment would only just fit the bill. Total consternation came close.
"I made it up to you, didn't I?"
"Made it up?!" now it was Gregory's turn to wave his arms about as he all but shouted, "I had to sleep on my stomach for a week! The doctor thought I'd been ravaged by a wild beast!"
She smirked at his words and arched an eyebrow at him and shook out her golden mane before noting in a superior voice, "You didn't complain at the time."
The broad shouldered man abruptly skidded to a halt. He blinked and for the first time seemed to perceive that they were not alone. Glancing to either side he took note of the dumbstruck students that were sitting all around them. Finally he looked at his wife and said, with perfect calm, "You do realise that we have a rather sizable audience."
Hilary's jaw dropped and she glanced around the hall. Her face, tanned as it was, managed to pale a good few shades. Turning back to Gregory she drew in a shaky breath before speaking in a small voice. "I guess I went and stepped in it."
"That's a fair assessment," agreed Gregory, smiling thinly.
"Dammit, I swore I wouldn't do this."
TBC...