Adriana
Applause filled my ears as George and I entered the Great Hall, walking toward a large round table at the top of the hall, where all the judges were sitting.
I admired the hall as we walked, taking in the walls that had been covered in sparkling silver frost, as well as the hundreds of garlands of what looked to be mistletoe crossing the ceiling.
Once we reached the table, I noticed that one of the judges, Mr. Crouch, was missing. In his place was Percy.
"What's your brother doing here?" I asked George, who was watching as Percy beckoned Harry over. George shrugged as Harry sat down next to Percy, his date sitting to his left, while George drew out a chair for me and sat down next to Harry's date.
"No idea," George answered, eavesdropping on what Percy was saying to Harry. It turned out that Percy had gotten a promotion and was now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and had come in his place, since Mr. Crouch was apparently not feeling well.
I just shrugged as George and I made eye contact before I looked down at the plate in front of me. There was a small menu lying in front of the plate, which I picked up and looked over. I then looked around the Great Hall, slightly confused as to how we were supposed to get our dinner.
I was just about to ask George about it, but my attention was drawn to Professor Dumbledore when I heard him say, "Pork chops!" Not even a second later, pork chops appeared on his plate.
Apparently the rest of the students were also confused about the food situation, as shouts of dinner orders soon arose once Professor Dumbledore had demonstrated what to do. I too said my order, and dug in while making light conversation with George.
Once dinner had ended, Professor Dumbledore instructed all the students, except for the champions, to stand up. Once they had, he made all the tables zoom back along the walls of the hall, clearing the floor in the center. He then conjured a raised platform along the right wall, and some people, who looked like a band of some sort, stepped up onto the stage. They were met with enthusiastic applause and cheers.
"Who are they?" I asked George, who was one of the people cheering the loudest.
He stopped clapping and looked over to me with a confused expression. "How do you not know who the Weird Sisters are?"
"I don't know," I shrugged. "Are they a wizarding band? Nevermind, don't answer that question. They're at Hogwarts, they're obviously a wizarding band."
George laughed before suddenly standing up from his seat, holding his hand out for me. I gently grabbed it and stood as well, confused for a moment before he led me onto the dance floor with the other champions and their partners. I had forgotten about the opening dance the champions were supposed to do.
"Are you ready for this?" George whispered to me as he placed his right hand on my waist, the other holding my right hand while I placed my left hand on his shoulder.
"Ready as I'll ever be," I nervously whispered back. "Let's see if all those dance lessons were worth it."
Before any more words could be exchanged, the band that was apparently called the Weird Sisters started playing a slow tune, the same I had heard countless times over the last few weeks.
George and I then began doing the traditional waltz we had been taught. At first, I did my best to be all graceful and do it exactly as I had been told, but then I gave up, and focused more on having fun than anything else. George and I might have looked ridiculous, swinging around the dance floor together and laughing, but I didn't care.
Students and teachers soon started joining us on the dance floor, waltzing around with us so the focus wasn't completely on the champions. I continued dancing around with George, him whispering jokes or comments in my ear every now and then, making me laugh as he led me.
Eventually, I heard the final note of the song play, and the music stopped. Everyone clapped for the Weird Sisters, before they struck up a new song, this one much faster paced. George's face immediately lit up in recognition, and he pulled me through the crowd while bobbing his head along with the music. He brought us to where Angelina and Fred were dancing together without a care in the world, to the point where people were backing away from them in fear of getting injured by one of their flailing limbs.
George then took both my hands in his and made me dance along to the music with him, singing out loud in a horrible singing voice. I didn't mind his bad singing, though, as it made the experience much more entertaining and fun.
We danced together, as well as with Fred and Angelina, for a couple of songs, before I got tired and was ready for a break. I told George this and he once again led me through the crowd, but this time to where some refreshments were located. George grabbed a butterbeer for me, handing it over, before he grabbed his own.
I beckoned George down some, so I could speak into his ear and not have to yell over the music. "Can we go outside for a bit?"
"Of course," he said back, and we both headed out of the Great Hall, into the entrance hall, and out the open front doors. We then sat on a bench together just outside the hall, underneath some of the fairy lights that had been strewn about.
"They really made it look nice out here," I said after some moments of silence. "I almost want to stay out here all night."
"The snow really adds to the look, don't you think?" George commented, and I nodded in agreement. "Speaking of, you're not cold, are you?"
"Not at all," I replied, shaking my head. "It actually feels really nice after being in the crowded hall and dancing to a bunch of upbeat songs. It's kind of why I wanted to come out here in the first place. You know, to cool off faster. I also wanted to take a break from the loud music."
"Makes sense," he nodded. "Just let me know if you get too cold, alright? I promise you, the second I see even the slightest bit of a shiver, my coat will be wrapped around your shoulders."
"Alright," I laughed before quieting down. I enjoyed the comforting silence between us as I stargazed, until I heard the familiar clunking sound coming from behind us.
George and I turned around on the bench to see Professor Moody walking toward us, and I sat up straight as he rounded the bench to stand in front of us, squirming slightly under his uncomfortable and intense gaze.
"LaVey." He nodded at me. "Weasley." At George this time. We both sharply nodded back, and he looked around us before focusing back on me. "LaVey, have you figured that egg out yet?"
"No," I quietly responded.
"I suggest," he started, lowering his voice as he leaned down, "you try putting it under the water." He then straightened back up, saying, "Have a good night," before he clunked back off into the castle. George and I watched as he left, before we turned to look at each other, confusion on both of our faces.
"The fuck was that about?" George spoke up first, although quietly.
"I have no clue." I shook my head. "I may want to try and put that thing into the water now, though. It wouldn't hurt, right?"
"I sure hope not," he said. "Do you think you're ready to head back inside yet?"
"Mhmm," I hummed, standing up as George did. We walked back inside, finishing off our butterbeers as we entered the Great Hall again. Another waltz was now happening, but George and I just headed to where all our friends were sitting at one table, not partaking in the dance either.
We sat down in the only two empty seats, George next to Fred, and me next to Cho. I quickly got swept up into conversation after conversation, and barely even noticed when George disappeared off with Fred.
When I did realize their absence, I searched all over the hall to see the twins furiously talking with Ludo Bagman, who just waved them both off and headed to where Harry was sitting. Fred and George then headed back over to our table, sitting down while whispering to each other. Once they were done, I tapped on George's shoulder to get his attention.
"What was that about?" I questioned, nodding my head towards Bagman.
George opened his mouth to say something, but was quickly nudged by Fred. They stared at each other for a second before George turned back to me. "Nothing important. I'll tell you about it later, okay?"
"Okay..."