HARRY POTTER Book 4: Chapter 23
Chapter 23
THE CHRISTMAS BALL
Snow falls heavily over Hogwarts. The grounds are white and quiet. The Beauxbatons carriage is covered in frost. The Durmstrang ship sits in the lake with ice around its windows.
Inside the castle, everything is loud. Gryffindor Tower is full of students. They have stayed for the holidays. People laugh, shout, and throw cushions at each other. No one wants to think about homework.
Fred and George are very proud of their new sweets. For two days, students keep turning into large yellow birds. Feathers explode everywhere. After that, everyone becomes careful. No one trusts food from anyone else. Harry promises himself he will never eat anything from the twins again.
The Christmas Ball is only a few days away. Everywhere he goes, Harry hears the same question. “Who are you going with?” Ron keeps asking Hermione. He asks when she is reading. He asks when she is eating. He asks when she is not expecting it. “Hermione, who are you going with?” “I’m not telling you.” “Why not?” “Because you’ll laugh.” Ron looks confused and annoyed at the same time.
Christmas morning arrives. Harry wakes suddenly. Something is very close to his face. Large green eyes look at him in the dark. “Dobby!” Harry shouts. He almost falls out of bed. “Dobby is sorry, sir!” Dobby squeaks. “Dobby only wishes Harry Potter Merry Christmas!” Ron turns over in his bed. “Is someone attacking you?” he asks sleepily. “No. It’s just Dobby.”
Dobby stands nervously next to Harry’s bed. He wears strange clothes. There is a bright Christmas ball on his hat. “Dobby has a present, sir.” Harry remembers he does not have a gift for Dobby. He quickly opens his trunk and pulls out an old pair of thick yellow socks. “Sorry I didn’t wrap them,” Harry says.
Dobby gasps with happiness. “Socks are Dobby’s favorite clothes!” Ron laughs and throws Dobby another pair of new socks. “And take these too.” Dobby almost cries with joy.
Harry opens his other presents. Hermione gives him a book about Quidditch teams. Ron gives him a bag of Dungbombs. Sirius sends a small knife with many useful tools. Hagrid gives him a large box of sweets. Harry feels warm and happy. But later that day, he remembers something. Tonight is the Christmas Ball. His stomach feels tight.
In the evening, the boys change into their dress robes. Harry feels uncomfortable but normal. Ron looks like he wants to disappear. His robes are old. There is ugly lace at the neck and sleeves. “They look like a dress,” Ron says in horror. He uses a spell to cut off the lace. The edges look messy. “It’s still terrible,” he mutters.
Downstairs, the common room looks strange. Students wear bright colors instead of black robes. Everyone looks different. Parvati Patil waits at the bottom of the stairs. She wears bright pink robes with gold bracelets. Her hair shines in the firelight. “You look nice,” Harry says awkwardly. “Thanks,” she replies, smiling.
Ron looks around again. “Where’s Hermione?” No one answers. They go down to the Entrance Hall. It is full of students waiting for the doors to open. Slytherins stand together. Malfoy wears black velvet robes. He looks proud. Pansy Parkinson holds his arm.
The oak doors open. The Great Hall looks magical. The long house tables are gone. Small round tables fill the room. Silver frost covers the walls. The ceiling shines like a night sky. Hundreds of lights glow softly. Harry forgets to breathe.
Then he sees her. Hermione stands near Viktor Krum. Harry almost does not recognize her. Her hair is smooth and tied back. There is an elegant knot on the top of her head. She wears light blue robes that move softly when she walks. She stands straight. She looks confident. She looks beautiful. “Hi, Harry,” she says, smiling nervously. Ron stares. He looks as if someone has hit him.
Professor McGonagall calls the champions forward. Harry walks with Parvati. Students clap as they enter the Hall. Harry feels embarrassed. He tries not to trip. They sit at the special table near the teachers. Music begins.
“Come on,” Parvati whispers. “We have to dance.” Harry stands and walks onto the dance floor. He feels stiff, like wood. He places one hand on Parvati’s waist. He tries to remember how to move. It is not terrible. And he does not step on her toes. But he does not enjoy it.
