HP-Hogwarts Story So Far

Transcript Seven

Professor Dumbledore's Faux-Pas

 

Professor Dumbledore was enjoying himself immensely at the Yule Ball. He had opened the Ball with a rousing speech (too bad most of the Third Years were still getting ready!) and had been spending most of the evening circulating the tables and even had shared a few dances with older students and staff.

As Marvo and Nimue danced he and Professor McGonagall had come close to the Third Year tables. Seeing them on the dance floor he smiled and said to Prof. McGonagall (loud enough though for 3rd years to hear),

"Splendid, splendid. What an enchanting couple they make. It's a fact Minerva that so often these arranged marriages between old wizarding families can be unhappy matches for the young people involved but looking at those two together I have a feeling that this will be one that works out."

Needless to say Nimue and Marvo danced on, continuing their discussion without the slightest awareness of Dumbledore's 'faux pas'.

Achel was stunned.

He looked around, seeing a few others whispering and giggling to each other and soon his shock turned to anger. 'How could that Marvo do this?' he thought to himself. 'I bet he planned it all, and his family. He had heard rumours about them. None of them good'.

'And poor Nimue, I bet she hates the idea of having to spend the rest of her life with.. HIM'.

'I wish I hadn't included him' he says to himself and swallows a large gulp of Punch. Putting the goblet down on the table with slightly more force than necessary.

Yvette winces, and moves closer to Andy. This Ball is taking a nasty turn...

Riala almost choked on a sip of her cocoa when Dumbledore made his 'none of his business' announcement to the group. But kept quite and did little but that. Tonight would have some interesting dreams...She thought then regretted it, 'if I make it to tonight' she thought, thinking of Morticia's vision....

Kat overheard this. She had been suspecting it was the reason, but didn't believe that Marvo would have carried on the way he had if it was. She was shocked. How could they? Why would they? The least they could have done is told her. Nimue knew how she felt about Marvo. She couldn't take this humiliation. Without saying a word to anyone she ran out before she started crying everywhere. Nimue and Marvo were oblivious to this and just carried on dancing.

She ran and ran. She had no idea where she was going. She went through the main doors of Hogwarts and down towards the lake. Tears were streaming down her face. "How could they? First I loose Joss as a best friend because she is killed and then my other close friends Nimue and Marvo deceive me. Why do I always have to be on my own!" She collapsed on the frosty ground sobbing uncontrollably.

"Did you hear that!?" Peesey said to anyone who was listening after hearing Dumbledore's words. "So that was what all the anger was about!" He was obviously delighted to know exactly what was happening "I AM pleased!"

"I did hear it and it certainly explains a great deal." She saw the possibility of there being an 'opening' both in terms of becoming a closer friend with Kat as well as the handsome Achel needing comfort in light of this. She looked around for both Kat and Achel to gauge their reactions:

"Hey, where is Kat anyway?"

Madison looked worried. "I saw her run out...she was really upset. I just thought she needed some time alone, but now I don't know. With everything that's been happening around here, it's pretty dangerous to be wandering around alone." Lee nodded. "You're right...should we go look for her?"

Achel begins to stand. His eyes on Marvo, his fists clenched.

The encounter with the ghost had left Morticia shaken. Once she was feeling a little less sick Egreen had gone to get her another drink. As he was returning Kat ran right by him heading for who knew where. Now returning to the table he noted also his cousin's reaction to the returning Marvo and Nimue and put 2+2 together and came up with 4 - that both his cousin and Kat were reacting to something that was going on with the other two..

Egreen swiftly walked to Achel's side and placed an hand on his arm to caution him. "Hold!" he said in a low, urgent voice. "Not now - we need clear heads. Something is definitely afoot."

Achel roughly pushes Egreen's hand away. 'Get off me, cousin!' He says in an angry voice.

He looks over at Nimue, seeing concern in her eyes. 'I'm going to get a drink'

He pulls away from the table and storms off to the punch bowl.

Nimue and Marvo were about 'talked out' as well as danced out for the moment. Certainly there was more to discuss but that could wait.

They walked back to the Third Year tables chatting & smiling and suddenly found they were the object of a fair amount of attention, a couple of people were staring open-mouthed, others giggling and commenting.

Together they said: "What?!!?..."

Nimue took in the look on Achel's face and saw he was looking angrily at Marvo. Why? OK she and Marvo had been on the dance floor longer than they'd expected but it was hardly something to be upset about. So maybe someone had been stirring it? Sarah who was in a giggly whispering mode with Peesey was prime suspect.

She looked about for Kat and didn't see her at the table, which didn't immediately concern her as Joss' appearance had shaken all of them - even those who knew she was still about.

She also was becoming aware of a vague 'tickle' in the back of her mind as though someone or something was seeking to contact her. As she acknowledged it the sense of urgency behind it started growing stronger and stronger...

Marvo looked at the staring faces. Then he suddenly realised why everyone is looking at them so shocked! It's obvious! They had expected him to have two left feet on the dance floor and didn't expect him to be such a good dancer! He was relived he had read those books on Dancing before tonight.

He smiled innocently and then noticed Kat had gone. 'Where's Kat gone'? He asked, not overly concerned, after all, she may have just popped out for any number of reasons.

"Gone somewhere," Morticia replies calmly and smiles. "Marvo, I'm sorry to tell you, but Dumbledore's spilled the beans about you and Nimue." She grins awkwardly. "Sorry about it, really, I am." She glances at Achel. "I hope you don't get into trouble for it... Oh, and by the way, I wanted to thank you for dancing with Joss... I think she really liked it." She pauses. "Has anybody seen my cat lately?" she asks to change the topic, as most people still stare at Marvo.

Marvo's smile froze. 'Dumbledore told… he said... You know?'

Marvo looked around the table and then at Nimue, who looked just as shocked as he did.

'But... But we don't WANT it you know! It's not OUR choose. We don't want...' His words cut off as realisation hit him.

'Did Kat hear?' He waited for an answer

"Guess why she ran out like that!" Morticia replies with a sympathetic and helpless smile. "Marvo, if there's anything... or you, Nimue..."

Marvo looks at Morticia, but his eye doesn't seem fully focused on her (his other eye is covered by a Pirates Eye patch. 'Did... Did she say anything?'

Nimue had been shocked to hear that Dumbledore had revealed the situation that she and Marvo found themselves in. Of course, he couldn't have known that they hadn't spoken to their classmates about what had happened in London.

Nimue had been looking through the Daily Prophet just in case their parents had placed any official announcement of the betrothal or that nosy Rita Skeeter had found out and made some comment.. However, nothing had appeared. It seemed after the tumultuous scenes that had followed their being informed, both sets of parents had declared a 'cooling off' period to allow them to 'come to terms with it.'

'Come to terms with it' - they just didn't understand! Now it seemed that Kat had misinterpreted the situation and had run off upset. Nimue didn't blame her as she had been worrying that knowledge of this would hurt Kat despite the fact that both Nimue and Marvo hadn't been given any choice. Their feelings were 'irrelevant' it seemed. Now they couldn't even talk to Kat about it. One thing being mended appeared to have broken something else!

"Thank you Morticia. We were both worried about people finding out but we knew that sooner or later it would come out. Thank you also for your offer though we'll have to do our own sorting out with those we care about." She said this all this loud enough for Achel to hear and hoped he wasn't going to hate her now.

At least Achel didn't seem to be going off anywhere too far, thought Nimue watching him stalk off. What a day it had been for people storming off! Still much of this could have been avoided if she'd been reasonable in the morning. Oh well, no point crying over missed opportunities, her practical side kicked in:

Addressing the rest of the Third Years Nimue said: "Everyone please go back to your partying. Kat wouldn't have gone far and I'm sure that Marvo and I will be able to find her and sort things out." She turned and gave a weak smile to Marvo: "That is if you think it's a good idea I come with you. She might prefer being found by you alone so that the two of you can talk."