Natsu Dragneel and the Goblet of Fire

The Unexpected Task

"Dragneel! Fullbuster! Will you pay attention?"

Porlyusica's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday, and Natsu and Gray both jumped and looked up. It was the end of the lesson; they had finished their work; the guinea fowl they had been changing into guinea pigs had been shut away in a large cage on Professor Pegasus' desk (Gajeel's still had feathers); they had copied down their homework from the blackboard ("Describe, with examples, the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches"} when Porlyusica walked in.

The bell was due to ring at any moment, and Natsu and Gray, who had been having a sword fight with a couple of Erza and Mira's fake wands at the back of the class, looked up, Gray holding a tin parrot and Natsu, a rubber haddock.

"Now that Dragneel and Fullbuster have been kind enough to act their age," said Porlyusica, with an angry look at the pair of them as the head of Natsu's haddock drooped and fell silently to the floor - Gray's parrot's beak had severed it moments before - "I have something to say to you all.

"The Yule Ball is approaching -a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above - although you may invite a younger student if you wish -"

Juvia Lockser let out a shrill giggle. Cana nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to giggle. They both looked around at Gray, Porlyusica ignored them, which Natsu thought was distinctly unfair, as she had just told off him and Gray.

"Dress robes will be worn," Porlyusica continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then -"

Porlyusica stared deliberately around the class.

"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to - er - let our hair down," she said, in a disapproving voice.

Juvia giggled harder than ever, with her hand pressed hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. Natsu could see what was funny this time: Porlyusica, with her hair in a tight bun, looked as though she had never let her hair down in any sense.

"But that does NOT mean," Porlyusica went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

The bell rang, and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags and swung them onto their shoulders.

Porlyusica called above the noise, "Dragneel - a word, if you please."

Assuming this had something to do with his headless rubber haddock, Natsu proceeded gloomily to the teacher's desk. Porlyusica waited until the rest of the class had gone, and then said, "Dragneel, the champions and their partners -"

"What partners?" said Natsu.

Profesor McGonagall looked suspiciously at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny.

"Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your dance partners."

Natsu's insides seemed to curl up and shrivel.

"Dance partners?" He felt himself going red. "I don't dance," he said quickly.

"Oh yes, you do," said Porlyusica irritably. "That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."

Natsu had a sudden mental image of himself in a top hat and tails, accompanied by a girl in the sort of frilly dress Aunt Bethany always wore to Uncle Nicholas' work parties.