For Every Action

Chapter IX

Because of my little chat with Ginny, I was late for Arithmacy, but Professor Vector didn't make a show of it. She acknowledged my presence with a nod and then continued on with her speech on the relativity of numbers chart. I slid into an empty wooden desk, of which there was an abundance, and pulled out my textbook. I was out of breath from running up several flights of stairs with a 50 lb. bag of books.

"And therefore, all theory of Arithmatic practice is based on this chart," she said plainly, gesturing to a brightly coloured poster behind her, depicting the relativity of numbers to their corresponding letters. "Today's assignment will be answering the review questions 1 through 245 found on pages 456, 457 and 458 in your textbook. They are to be handed in tomorrow. You will have the last half of class to work on them, the first 45 minutes being devoted to you essays on modern Arithmatic practices and famous instructors of the art. The essay is to be handed in two days from now."

The few students in the class groaned, and the flipping of pages was heard as they tried to find their places of reference from one or more of the three textbooks laden on them for this class. I turned, expecting to see Draco, as I had not picked him out in the students scattered around the classroom when I entered, but he was not there. My mood dropped a little, and a slight air of melancholy pervaded the studious atmosphere.

I sighed resignedly, finding my own page in Complex Arithmacy for Those of a Sophisticated Mind by I. M. Ageek. As I pulled out my sheet of parchment, which I had to turn into a 3 foot long essay by Friday, the three hastily scribbled paragraphs summed up just about all I could say about Almeda Grafier, an (apparently) famous Arithmacy Professor at the magical university of Grennfrier, near Leeds. I'd never heard of her before, a fact I was not willing to admit. As I was concentrating, a slight tap at the door, which was heard only by Professor Vector, sounded towards the front of the classroom. Unbeknownst to me, Professor Vector received the visitor through a foot-wide crevice in the doorway.

"Miss Granger," Professor Vector's voice rang out severely. "Will you please come here?"

I'm being reprimanded for being late. The one time I'm late, I would happen to get caught. I rested my peacock quill (a Christmas present from Harry 2 years ago) on my table and wove my way through the labyrinth of desks to the door.

Professor McGonagall stood in the corridor, waiting seemingly impatiently. "Miss Granger, I would like you to head the ball decorating committee, if it's not too much. It will only add to that, I daresay, impressive resume of yours."

I relaxed. "Who else is on the committee?" I asked tentatively, leaning against the door jam amidst Prof. Vector's disapproving glare from her desk.

"Miss Patil and Mr. Boot, Ravenclaw; Miss Bones and Mr. Finch-Fletchly, Hufflepuff; Mr. Zambini, Slytherin; and Miss Weasley, Gryffindor are all partakers in the group. There were no Seventh Years from Gryffindor to volunteer to head the committee, and you have been a very hard girl to find lately," responded Prof. McGonagall with a knowing look in her eye.

Great. Even the teachers know what happened. Thankfully not the whole story, but it's close enough.

"Now, as head of the committee, you would have to present the Quidditch Cup to the Winners, even though we already know the result. Basically, it's a formality for those Ministry representatives who attend. Because Gryffindor," she cleared her through proudly, "won once again, for the 4^th year in a row, I believe, the Gryffindor Quidditch team will be seated at the head table along with you and Mr. Malfoy."

"M, m, ministry officials," I sputtered, quite taken aback by the giant task presented. "Present the cup? Why, why D-Malfoy and I, Professor?" I managed to add, even though my tongue was dry and I felt faint.

"You two have tied for highest marks, Miss Granger. Had you no idea?" she replied quizzically, raising one eyebrow.

I shook my head and answered blatantly. "No one told us."

"Oh. Well, will you accept the position?" There was nothing else I could do. I nodded. "Excellent. Well, you'd best find Mr. Malfoy and discuss your speech. I do believe he's in the hospital wing. Here's an excuse slip for you to miss class, if you see it necessary. If you need to go to Hogsmeade, please let me know, and I shall provide permission." Once again I declared my agreement, and turned back to the classroom, eager to find Draco and see if he was alright. I couldn't show my concern for him directly in front of Professor McGonagall; she would have known we had deeper ties than one stupid teenage fight. And our deeper tie constitutes expulsion at Hogwarts.

Who was on the committee again? Oh right; Terry, Padma, Susan, Justin, Blaise, and Ginny. Well it's going to be some party. I smirked to myself at being able to set up anything for our final sendoff. It was the first end-of-year party ever before allowed at Hogwarts. Not like those tacky proms in the US. Something much more sophisticated. A black tie event.

Glancing around the classroom, I saw Justin and Terry hunched over a thick dictionary. I knew I had Potions with Blaise, not that I wanted to talk to him anyway, and Charms with Susan and Padma. I didn't know when I'd see Ginny again, but I knew it wouldn't be too long from now.

I slid all of my belongings into my pack, and by the time I'd finished Justin had disappeared somewhere.

"Terry?" I asked as I put a hand on each of the front corners of his desk, "I have a proposition for you." He looked up from his work, slightly surprised, and the frown previously creasing his brow disappeared as a grin broke out on his face, displaying a set of perfect teeth. I had never had perfect teeth. Now, they were shrunk, much thanks to Draco so very long ago, but my parents abhorred the thought of braces on their own daughter. So I went without, and let me just say, perfect teeth aren't all that. I hate it when people stare at me, let alone my mouth.

"Oh, I heard our favorite little Slytherin also had a proposition for you, and you took the bait," he said, playing with a quill in his hands and grinning up at me, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

"What...who...where did you hear that?" I hissed, frowning severely, and Terry lost his sparkle.

"You mean you don't know?" he queried, still looking rather smug, but not quite so happy.

Oh, Draco has that look down way better than you do, Terry. You should take lessons.

"No, I didn't," I replied softly, sitting down opposite him.

"Well, that's what's been going around. Not seriously though, and not that I believe it. Everybody knows that you wouldn't have done anything like that. I'm just stating facts," Terry finished hurriedly. My face relaxed, and his lost its anxious worriment. "Good, I'm glad you're not upset. I thought you were going to hex me for a minute there," he added with relief.

I smiled. "Why, I just might if you don't show up tonight."

"What's this then?" interrupted Justin as he pulled a chair up on another side of the table.

"You two are on the Committee for the ball, right?" I began, and they nodded sourly. "Don't you want to be?" I asked, surprised at their lack of enthusiasm.

"Not really," admitted Justin. "Fluffing big pink bows about and setting up punch containers wasn't exactly the idea I had when I joined, but Padma has other ideas." Terry nodded in agreement.

"Well, bows, let alone fluffy pink ones, weren't on my agenda. I'm the head of the committee, and I'm going to see fit it's the best send off we've ever had." They brightened slightly at my words. "There'll be a meeting tonight at 8:00 in the empty Charms classroom, and we'll discuss the dance then. I'll make sure Padma doesn't get her bows, I promise."

"We'll be there, sure thing," said Terry without delay.

"Good," I replied softly. "I've got to go now, I have to find Draco. He's not on the committee, but we've got to write a speech." They nodded, and I left happily, forgetting all about having to present the Quidditch Cup to Harry.