The Forging of the Bonds

LunaIsCool

Story Summary:
Arthur and Lucius, Ron and Draco... the enmity betweent the Weasleys and the Malfoys has not ended with the defeat of Voldemort. But as Michael Weasley and Elizabeth Malfoy are start their sixth year, they begin to learn more than they ever knew about the past and about themselves, with the aid of their new DADA teacher... a hero unseen in wizarding Britain since the war ended...

Chapter 17 - The Champions' Dates

Posted:
02/08/2007
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1,828


Chapter 17. The Champions' Dates.

A few boys from other houses were standing near the portrait of the Fat Lady, looking nervous. Mike had always wondered if the girls really needed this long to get dressed, or if they just liked to keep them waiting. He wished Dave was there, but he had left to pick up Laura.

The door opened, and several girls stepped out to meet their dates. Kate was among them. She wore navy blue robes so long that they flowed along the floor behind her. Mike smiled, taking her hand.

"You look fantastic," he said. And she did. Kate was often seen as a tomboy by other Gryffindor girls, probably because she didn't have any close girlfriends, but she was actually very pretty.

Mike did remember their pact, made in their first year, to never date each other. And he wasn't interested in Kate that way. They were going as friends. Of course, he mused, the Hogwarts rumor mill would ignore that, but that would happen no matter who he took.

"What are you thinking?" Kate asked.

"Oh, nothing much. Just that tomorrow, the school will be abuzz with gossip."

"Do you care?"

"No." He shrugged. "Elizabeth might--about her date, of course."

"Who's she going with?"

"Some Slytherin bloke," he said. "She wouldn't tell me who."

"Mike! Kate!" Dave shouted. They walked over. He held Laura's arm in his.

"Hello, guys," Laura said. "You look great, Kate."

"Hey, what about me?" Mike asked.

"Oh, you don't look so bad, yourself," Laura agreed. "At least your hair looks brushed. Unlike someone I could name."

Dave gasped at her. "You--"

"I'm kidding," she laughed. To prove that she was, she kissed Dave on the cheek.

"Come on, Kate," Mike said, leading her away. "Let's leave these two lovebirds. We're going to have to open the dance."

Mike and Kate headed downstairs to where the champions had gathered just outside the Great Hall. "Not many Muggles have seen the halls of Hogwarts," Mike heard Professor Potter say. He turned. The Defense teacher was there, arm around his wife. The woman was looking around curiously. Mike could hardly blame her, considering his own amazement the first time he saw the castle.

"Good evening, Mr. Weasley. Miss Longbottom."

"Good evening, Professor."

"I'm Stephanie Potter," his wife said.

Mike shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"So this is the Hogwarts champion," she said to her husband.

"Half the championship team," Potter corrected. "And here comes the other half!" he announced.

Mike turned. Elizabeth Malfoy was walking hand in hand with a tall, long-haired Slytherin boy. Mike recognized him as Alan Montague, the Keeper for the Slytherin Quidditch team.

"Good evening, Miss Malfoy," Potter said. "Mr. Montague."

"Good evening, Professor," Elizabeth said. "Mrs. Potter."

"What is she doing here?" Montague demanded.

"Will you stop it!" Elizabeth chided him. Mike at her looked in surprise.

"To answer your question, Mr. Montague, teachers are allowed to bring guests. And," he continued, anticipating Mike and Elizabeth's question, "there's nothing in the rules that says guests have to be wizards."

"What are we waiting for, Professor?"

"The remaining champions." Mike looked around. Fatima Dubois was with a Ravenclaw boy he didn't know. He couldn't believe that Nathan Thomas had asked Veronique Rossi, the other Beauxbatons champion, but he was there. Leonid Krum was with a Durmstrang girl. Boris, however, still hadn't shown up.

"Well, there's something for the gossip queens," Elizabeth said, glancing across the room.

Mike followed her gaze and had to agree. Boris Krum was approaching, escorting... Patricia Nott.

"Poor Goyle," Montague commented.

"Follow me," Professor Potter said after greeting the late-coming couple.

Mike took Kate's arm and followed Elizabeth into the Great Hall.