HARRY POTTER Book 4: Chapter 22
Chapter 22
THE UNEXPECTED TASK
Harry is in Transfiguration class. He is not listening to Professor McGonagall. He and Ron are playing with fake wands at the back of the room. Harry has a rubber fish. Ron has a parrot made of metal. They are having a sword fight.
“Potter! Weasley!” Professor McGonagall shouts. “Pay attention!” The class stops. The rubber fish falls to the floor. Professor McGonagall looks very angry. “This lesson is over,” she says. “But I have an announcement. The Christmas Ball is coming.”
The girls in the class start to whisper excitedly. Lavender Brown giggles. “The Christmas Ball is a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament,” Professor McGonagall explains. “It is a dance. It will be on Christmas night. You may bring a partner.” She looks at Harry. “You are in the fourth year, so you can go. You must wear dress robes. And you must behave well. I do not want the Gryffindor students to look bad.”
The bell rings. Everyone packs their bags. “Potter,” Professor McGonagall says. I would like to speak to you, please.” Harry waits. The other students leave. “Potter, the champions have a special job,” she says. “You must open the ball.” “Open the ball?” Harry asks. He doesn’t understand.
“Yes,” she says. “You and your partner will dance the first dance.” “Partner? Dance?” Harry says. “I don’t dance. What partner?” “You must dance the opening dance with your dance partner,” Professor McGonagall says firmly. “You represent the school. You must find a partner, Potter. And you must practice.”
Harry walks out of the room. He feels terrible. Fighting the dragon was scary, but dancing in front of the whole school sounds worse. He finds Ron in the corridor. “What did she want?” Ron asks. “I have to dance,” Harry says. “Champions have to dance.”
“That’s difficult,” Ron says. He tries not to laugh. “It’s not funny,” Harry says. “I need a partner. Who am I going to ask?” For the next week, Harry worries. He tries to get the courage to ask a girl, but he cannot do it. It is very difficult. He sees girls walking in groups. They are always whispering and giggling. It makes Harry very nervous.
One day, Harry and Ron are in the common room. Fred and George are there too. “Who are you taking to the ball?” Ron asks Fred. “Angelina Johnson,” Fred says. “You haven’t asked her yet,” Ron says. “You’re right,” Fred says. He stands up.
He looks across the room. “Oi! Angelina!” Angelina stops talking to her friends. “What?” she calls back. “Do you want to go to the ball with me?” Fred shouts. Angelina smiles. “All right,” she says. Fred sits down. “See?” he says to Ron. “It’s easy.”
Harry wishes it was easy for him. He wants to ask Cho Chang. She is the Seeker for the Ravenclaw team. She is very pretty. But she is always with her friends. Harry never sees her alone. Finally, Harry sees his chance. It is the last day of term. Cho is walking down the stairs. She is alone. Harry runs after her.
“Cho! Wait!” Cho turns around. “Oh, hello, Harry,” she says. “I... er...” Harry stammers. He feels his face get hot. “I wondered if you... if you wanted to go to the ball with me?” Cho looks at him. She looks sad. “Oh, Harry,” she says. “I’m really sorry. I already said I would go with someone else.” “Oh,” Harry says.
His stomach drops. “Okay. No problem.” “I’m really sorry,” she says again. “It’s fine,” Harry says. “Who are you going with?” Harry asks. “Cedric Diggory,” Cho says. “Oh,” Harry says again. “Right. Good.” Harry walks away. He feels very stupid. Cedric is handsome. Cedric is a champion. Of course Cho wants to go with him.
Harry goes back to the common room. He sits next to Ron. Ron looks very pale. He looks like he is in shock. “What happened?” Harry asks. “I asked Fleur Delacour,” Ron whispers. “What?” Harry says. “Fleur? The Beauxbatons champion?” “I don’t know what happened,” Ron says.
“I was walking in the hall. I saw her. I just shouted at her. I said, ‘Will you go to the ball with me?’” “What did she say?” Harry asks. “She looked at me like I was a sea monster,” Ron says. “She didn’t answer. She just walked away.” Harry tries not to laugh. He pats Ron on the back. “It’s okay, Ron. We can find someone else.”
Just then, Hermione walks into the room. She sits down with them. “Why do you two look so sad?” she asks. “We don’t have partners,” Ron says. “It’s a disaster.” Ron looks at Hermione. He looks at her for a long time. “Hermione,” Ron says slowly. “You are a girl.” “You noticed,” Hermione says coldly. “You can come with one of us!” Ron says.
“It’s perfect. You can come with me, or Harry.” Hermione stands up. She looks very angry. “I am not going as a last option!” she snaps. “And I already have a partner.” “No, you don’t,” Ron says. “You’re lying.” “I am not lying!” Hermione shouts. “Someone asked me, and I said yes!” “Who?” Ron laughs. “Who would ask you?” “I’m not telling you!” Hermione yells. She picks up her books and storms off to the girls’ dormitory.
Ron looks at Harry. “She’s lying,” he says. “She doesn’t have a partner. She just doesn’t want to go with us.” The sun goes down. The common room is almost empty. There are only a few girls talking by the fire. Harry and Ron are desperate. “We have to find someone,” Harry says. “I have to dance. I can’t go alone.” “I know,” Ron says. “Think, Harry. Think.”
“What about Ginny?” Harry asks. “She’s my sister,” Ron says. “But okay. Ginny!” Ron yells to his sister, who sits by the fire. Ginny walks over. “What?” “Who are you going to the ball with?” Ron asks. “Neville,” Ginny says. “He asked me this morning. Why?” “I wanted you to go with Harry,” Ron says. Ginny looks at Harry. She looks a little sad. “I can’t,” she says. “I already promised Neville.” She walks away.
Harry puts his head in his hands. “This is hopeless,” he says. Then, the portrait hole opens. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown walk in. They are giggling. Harry stands up. He has to do it. He cannot wait anymore. “Parvati?” Harry says. Parvati stops. “Yes, Harry?” “Will you go to the ball with me?” Harry asks.
Parvati looks at her friend. Then she looks at Harry. “Yes,” she says. “All right.” Harry breathes a sigh of relief. “Thanks,” he says. Then he looks at Ron. Ron is looking at the floor. “What about Ron?” Harry asks. “He doesn’t have a partner.” “My sister, Padma, doesn't have a partner, either,” says Parvati. “She’s in Ravenclaw. I can ask her.” “Please,” Harry says. “Okay,” Parvati says. “I’ll ask her.”
Harry sits down. He feels exhausted. He has a partner. He does not have Cho, but at least he is not alone. Now he just has to learn how to dance.
