Harry Potter and the Last Goodnight

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Players

The arena was filled with people in costumes. Harry couldn't even tell who was a Muggle and who wasn't anymore. Everyone was swept back in time to a different place where honor was won on the back of a horse and chivalry still existed in the hearts of men.

On each end of the arena was a jouster. One was wearing golden armor and rode a horse that was pure white - much like Harry's patronus. He was clearly the designated good guy. He was introduced as Simon the Protector, and all of the noble ladies swooned over him. He waved to the crowd as they cheered him to victory.

His nemesis, who was introduced as William the Black Knight, did not receive such a warm welcome. The crowd booed and hissed when he took off his dark, three-horned helmet to wave to the ladies of nobility, who spit at him. His horse was black to match his armor, and it snorted every time its master pulled on the reigns.

Each of the knights were handed a lance, which they both raised high above their heads until the long, heavy spindles of wood were perpendicular to the ground. In the center of the arena, a maiden waved a red flag. The two jousters pulled on the reigns of their horses. They each ran to the left of a long wooden guide bar, their lances parallel to the ground, lances aimed at one another's hearts.

"That's why British Muggles drive on the left, you know," Harry heard Professor Avis say to some nearby students, "because of the joust."

The crowd cheered as Simon the Protector hit the Black Knight with his lance on the shoulder. The Black Knight cursed and missed his target. The two of them returned respectively back to their corners.

In the second round, the Black Knight struck back with a terrible vengeance. Harry joined in as the crowd booed and hissed. He truly felt as though he were part of a different place at a different time.

And it felt good not to be Harry Potter for a little while.

After a few more rounds, Simon the Protector had managed to knock the Black Knight right off of his horse. The joust ended with the Black Knight swearing his bitter revenge.

The show continued with a performance from two royal jesters who swallowed fiery swords and juggled daggers. Then Simon and the Black Knight returned in a sword-fighting demonstration that left everyone breathless.

"It's Muggle dueling," Professor Avis whispered. Harry was surprised that she wasn't being more careful about mentioning the wizarding world, but all of the spectators were too involved in the show to listen to her.

The last event in the arena was of Simon the Protector, reading sonnets to a woman dressed in black lace. She wore a veil over her head, disguising her appearance. Simon talked of his forbidden love for the woman named Beth - who Harry assumed was the woman in black. She was merely a servant, and he was a knight. It was not right for him to love her. She bid a tearful farewell to him that even had Professor Avis sniffling by the end.

After the show was over, everyone in the arena was shuffled into the dining hall. The hall reminded Harry of the Great Hall at Hogwarts. It was set up in practically the same way. There were four long wooden tables and a red carpet forming a center aisle that led to the stage. On top of the stage there was a High Table, much like the one that the staff at Hogwarts sat at during mealtimes. In the center of the table, where Dumbledore would have sat, there were two royal thrones.

Chandeliers hung low from the ceilings providing light on the table tops. Golden goblets sparkled on the table. There was no silverware. Harry took a seat between Ron and Mr. Weasley. Parvatiand Lavender sat across from him. They'd been keeping an annoyingly close watch on him ever since they started the rumor about him and Ginny. They were wearing matching dresses made of fine pink silk.

Some of the performers from the arena entered the stage from a hidden door. A jester played the trumpet and cleared his throat. "Presenting his Royal Highness, King Edgar of Glouster, and his queen, Ramona." The jester beckoned for everyone to stand up.

Harry quickly got to his feet, peering past Parvati and Lavender as the middle-aged couple marched arm and arm up to the table on the stage. They were both wearing elaborate costumes, complete with golden crowns that contained sparkling emeralds.

The king and queen sat down on their thrones behind the table. They were joined shortly by two knights. One of them was Simon the Protector from the arena. The jesters and the rest of the players sat down.

"Before we begin our meal," the king announced, "we'll have to show our guests how royalty eats. Wench!" he shouted.

A woman dressed in a frilly, low-cut dress sauntered out on stage. She had a large metal tray that rested against her hip. There was a silver pitcher on it along with a piece of cloth. The tray swayed with her hips as she made her way over to the king.

The wench poured some red liquid into the king and queen's goblets. Then she set the tray down on the table and picked up the cloth. She draped it seductively around her neck and across her shoulders, past her chest, and then wrapped it around the king's neck like a bib.

She turned to the king and winked. "Can I get anything else for you?"

"Not for me, but for our guests." He gestured to the audience. "Send out the rest of your lot. The wenches are here to serve. Anything you ask for, you shall receive." He grinned wickedly. "If you need more of something, just hold the empty platter above your head and shout 'Wench!' and she'll come running."

Across the table, both Parvatiand Lavender looked positively disgusted at the idea that any self-respecting woman would be at a man's beck and call. Harry frowned beneath his helmet. Just who were these women anyway? Medieval prostitutes?

"Another thing you may notice is that we don't use any sort of utensils. You eat with your hands. Don't be afraid to make a mess. And have fun - that's what this feast is all about!" the king cried. He clapped his hands. "Let the celebration begin!"

Cheers rang throughout the dining hall as the doors from the kitchen burst open and a dozen wenches, dressed in the similar style of clothing, hurried to each table. The four tables were partitioned off into three sections, and each wench took her place at one section.

There was something familiar about the woman in the low-cut dress who approached Harry's part of the table. Something about the way she walked. Something about her smile and the curl of her hair. As she drew closer, Harry felt his heart catch in his chest.

Eva.

She wandered over to their table and smiled brightly at Mr. Weasley. "Hullo everyone! Welcome to the feast!"

"Hello!" Mr. Weasley greeted. "Everybody, this is Eva. You can thank her for the dinner tonight. Without her, we would have never gotten in a reservation. The waiting list is nearly a year long to eat here!"

Eva grinned sheepishly. "Don't mention it. And well, in this realm, I'm afraid I'm not Eva but merely Elisabeth the Wench."

Harry felt his blood pressure rising. He could hear his heartbeat echoing in his ears. Just the sight of her was enough to make him forget to breathe. She looked stunning in her dress made of frills of soft, baby-blue material. He recognized it from her room at the Hog's Head. She was wearing a sterling sliver chain around her neck that fell down her throat to her cleavage. It made Harry blush to see so much of her skin.

However, he couldn't help but feel slightly disgusted that everyone else in the room could see her flesh as well. Harry had an urge to rush over to her and drape his cape around her shoulders so that no one could see what he saw.

He also couldn't help but notice that she was clearly the youngest wench, as all the other tables had women who looked to be in their thirties waiting on them. He glanced down to the end of the table at Seamus. Did he know what she was doing? Did he care?

"So what can I get to quench your thirsts?" Eva asked. "We have some of the clearest sparkling water, some juice made of the exotic fruits of the Caribbean, or a pint of the best virgin ale."

At the sound of the word virgin, Ron let out a tiny squeak next to Harry. Clearly, he was distracted by her beauty. Harry elbowed him under the table and he let out a small moan.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," Eva said, staring at Ron.

"Water," he said quietly. "Just water."

"I'll have a pint," Mr. Weasley said. Lavender and Parvatiboth ordered water as well. Neville, who was sitting next to Lavender, ordered the juice.

When it was Harry's turn, he realized that Eva didn't recognize him with his helmet on. Again, there was something exciting, something mischievous about watching her when she didn't know he was. However, he didn't want to disguise himself any longer. He took a deep breath and removed his helmet.

"Harry!" Eva gasped. Clumsily, she dropped her tray. It crashed loudly on the cobblestone floor. She quickly bent over and picked it up, then brought her hand to her chest, realizing that she had given Harry's side of the table quite a view. Her cheeks grew red and she quickly adjusted her dress. "Er... What can I get for you?"

A smile played across Harry's lips. "I'll have a pint."

"Right. I'll... I'll be right back." She bowed her head and followed as the other wenches disappeared into the kitchen.

"Do you know her?" Ron questioned, now fully recovered.

"That's Nora's sister," Harry said quietly, hoping that no one would overhear him. But Mr. Weasley and Neville were deeply engaged in a conversation about the illegalization of some wizarding plant. Parvati and Lavender were whispering to each other secretively.

"She's really... gorgeous."

Harry frowned. He didn't particularly like the idea of Eva wearing that beautiful dress every night, serving groups of men and tourists who ordered her around. It worried him. Why on earth would she put up with the humiliation of being a slave every night? Was she that hard-pressed for money?

"I bet she does special favors too," Parvatisaid under her breath.

"Yes, especially with that dress," Lavender replied. "Honestly, what kind of a place is this? Is it a brothel or a dinner theater?"

"Would you two shut up?" Harry snapped. "It's a costume. That's all. A costume." Harry was trying desperately to reassure himself of the same thing.

"Why are you sticking up for her?" Parvatiasked. "How did she know your name, Harry?" She gasped. "Oh no, don't tell me that you've been cheating on Ginny!"

"Are you insane?!" Harry cried. He glanced at Mr. Weasley, who was still absorbed in his conversation with Neville. "How many times do I have to repeat myself? There is nothing going on between me and Ginny."

"Well, there certainly won't be once she finds out that you've been accepting favors from some wench," Parvatisnarled.

"We don't give out favors of any kind here," Eva said. She had quietly returned to the table, carrying a tray with their drinks. "It's all strictly performing. It's not a brothel, and yes, this dress is just me costume. But the tips are most generous when I wear it."

Both Parvati and Lavender's faces turned beet red. Harry noticed a triumphant gleam in Eva's eyes as she gave them their waters. Harry thanked her for his pint of the non-alcoholic ale, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. Maybe she was a little embarrassed about her appearance.

Or maybe she had heard Parvatitalk about Ginny. Maybe she thought that Ginny was Harry's girlfriend or something. He suddenly felt sick inside. Eva couldn't think that he was in a relationship - not after what had almost happened back in her room at the Hog's Head. If she thought that he had a girlfriend, she would think he was a two-timing prat.

"Arthur! Arthur!" Professor Avis was beckoning to Mr. Weasley from the other end of the table. "Could I speak to you for a moment?"

"If you'll not be needinganything else, I'll be back with your first course," Eva told Mr. Weasley, then disappeared into the kitchen. Mr. Weasley got up from the table to go see Professor Avis.

Suddenly, Neville leaned over the table, so close to Harry that their faces were only a foot away. His eyes were serious and clouded with trouble. "Do you swear to it, Harry?"

"Swear to what?"

"That you and Ginny... you aren't..."

Harry slammed his fist on the table. "Get this straight and get it final," he said between clenched teeth. "Ginny is one of my closest friends. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Satisfied that his point had been stated, Harry crossed his arms over his chest. He'd lost his appetite. Why should anyone care who he was dating anyway?

After a few moments of awkward silence, Eva appeared carrying the handle of a large cauldron in one hand and a few loaves of bread in the other. She set the bread down on the table and asked for everyone to pass their bowls for some soup.

"But we don't have any spoons," Parvaticomplained. "How are we supposed to eat it?"

"You're supposed to drink it," Harry replied. He lifted his bowl to his lips and slurped. "See?"

"That's it. Harry's got the right idea." Eva beamed at him.

"That's disgusting," Parvatisad.

"Actually," Ron said, after taking a sip of his soup, "it's quite fun."

Mr. Weasley returned from the other side of the room and sat down to the first course. "That's the spirit boys! You know, in medieval times there was no such thing as a spoon or a fork. Only knives."

"Isn't that kind of barbaric?" Lavender asked.

"That's the way it was back then. Everyone was barbaric. Even worse than that Black Knight chap," Mr. Weasley added.

"I hear he's not so bad once you get to know him," Eva said with a grin. "An excellent jouster. It's too bad he loses night after night. Can I get anyone anything?"

"Wench!" two Ravenclaw boys called, holding up an empty goblet and an empty bowl of soup. Their wench looked over at Eva with a pained smile.

"Well, if no one needs anything, I'll go lend a hand. Just call me." Eva hurried over to help at the other end of the table.

Harry glanced up. If anybody at his part of the table called Eva a wench, it would take everything inside of him not to launch himself across the table at them. He tried not to make it obvious that he was watching her every move.

Eva returned with a silver pitcher of ale and quickly filled the two students' goblets. She was just about to make her way back to Harry's table when suddenly, the massive wooden doors of the dining hall opened. The room darkened as a cold breeze swept into the hall, blowing out some of the candles in the chandeliers.

Harry heard a horse snort and hooves clanking against the wooden floor. Some of the wenches and the maidens at the table screamed. William the Black Knight had brought his stallion out of the arena and into the dining hall. He pulled on the reigns and the horse took off, galloping down the center aisle.

"I'll have my revenge!" the Black Knight called. "Not by joust, not by sword, but by heart!"

The audience gasped as he circled the room and headed straight for Harry's section of the table. Both Lavender and Parvati squealed as he drew nearer. Then he realized that the Black Knight's target was not his table, but Eva.

Suddenly, the Black Knight reached out and grabbed Eva by the waist and lifted her up onto his horse. She screamed and struggled, but he held her securely as she road side-saddle up to the stage where the king and queen sat.

Simon the Protector was on his feet in a flash. "Unhand Elisabeth at once, you bastard!"

"Elisabeth, you say?" the Black Knight taunted. "Isn't this your precious Beth?"

The queen stood up. "Beth, that woman you've claimed your love for, she is only a wench?!" she cried.

"Yes," Simon replied. "I'll not hide it any longer. I love her."

Harry glanced across the table and saw that both Lavender and Parvati found this scene positively romantic. Harry rolled his eyes. He sat back as Simon battled against the Black Knight in one final battle between good and evil. The Black Knight, of course, lost and the two lovers were reunited and accepted into the royal family. It was all a very happy ending. Too happy to be true.

However, something stirred inside Harry as he watched Eva perform up on the stage. She wasn't that bad of an actress, but he knew what was coming next. All of the people in the hall were rooting for the star-crossed couple who had battled the odds and wanted their love to conquer all. Simon the Protector leaned in for that final, satisfying kiss...

And something inside Harry suddenly burned with jealousy. He took his wand out of his pocket - which should have been left at Hogwarts - and pointed it up on the stage.

"Tarantallegra..."