For days to come, the School had nothing to talk about but Sirius Black's mad attack before he disappeared into thin air.
Meanwhile, the five Gryffindor boys of the third year were facing another sort of trouble — a dog, a cat, and a rat kind!
Ron had arranged an immense celebration for Scabbers' miraculous return.
He had been so pleased, in fact, that he had gone to Filch himself to thank him, as ridiculous as that sounded.
That had been just the beginning, though.
Since then, not one day had passed when poor Scabbers wasn't nearly mauled to death by either Uncle Black or Crookshanks.
It almost became Hogwarts' own comedic event.
Students from all Houses could spy a dog and a cat chasing a rat in the corridors during lunch hours.
One day, Ron just snapped and threatened to call Professor Villanelle to get Uncle Black checked for being a secret Death Eater agent.
To Ron's relief, the dog stopped even barking at the rat from that day on, only growling at Ron when he passed by with Scabbers.
To his utter dismay, Crookshanks intensified his clear intentions of plunging his fangs into Scabbers, making things worse between Ron and Hermione.
By the time November ended, things had just calmed down for Hogwarts students, when the School dropped another bomb on them.
"Harry! Black!" Professor McGonagall snapped at the two boys in Transfiguration Class. "Have you given up on participating in the Triwizard Tournament next term?! I got the report on your Credits from the Transfiguration Workshop. You two are just one point away from being marked fail!"
Harry and Black kept their heads down, trying not to glance at each other, lest they end up laughing. Even Dumbledore wouldn't be able to stop McGonagall from transfiguring them into pink-skinned toads, then.
"I don't get it…" she said after a while, looking at Neville, with several feathers coming out of his ears. "How you two are so far ahead in playing pranks on your fellow students? Especially you, Mr. Black. You have the highest Credits even among the fourth-year students in the Weasleys' Workshop…"
Black took that as a sign of praise and looked up, smiling.
McGonagall glared at him so hard that he instantly put his head down again.
"… Where does that brain go when it comes to Transfiguration?" She continued, carrying a chill in her voice. "And let's not even start on Defense Against the Dark Arts… You have lost over 50% of your Credits for being what… indisciplined?!"
That took all of them by surprise.
Harry, Black, Ron, and Draco looked at each other in anger.
"She's doing it on purpose, Professor!" Black said, the other Gryffindors nodding along with him. "You know how it is… She's got it for me!"
"Oi…" Draco's eyes narrowed.
"I mean…" Black corrected himself. "… She knows I am better than she is…"
"Better." Draco nodded, looking away.
"So, she's trying to get back at me through these underhanded means," Black continued. "Ask anyone. She literally singles out only Gryffindors to torture them."
"He's lying, Professor!" Hermione hissed from the sides. "Darcie has singled me out many times, too."
"When and for what?!" Ron snapped at her.
"Gossip…" Black said, drawing a chuckle from everyone.
Professor McGonagall peered at Black from behind her glasses.
"May it be so, Mr. Black," she said, softening her tone, ignoring Ron and Hermione. "Professor Dumbledore has observed her conduct in her Workshops and had nothing but praise for her. So, unless you come up with a better excuse, you should really start working on your attitude."
Before the Class could erupt with more complaints, Professor McGonagall hurriedly walked up to the lectern.
"Quiet!" she hissed under her breath. "I have one more thing to tell you all. Last year, due to some unexpected circumstances, we had to forego one of the oldest traditions of the Triwizard Tournament after the Ministry restarted it. There are only so many times we can truly afford to follow traditions now. So… the ministry has deemed it appropriate to arrange the event this year at Christmas…"
As the boys shared a confusing glance, and the girls' faces gained a bright blush, a small, rare smile flashed on Professor McGonagall's face before vanishing in the next moment.
"I am talking about the Yule Ball," she said. "Professor Dumbledore has invited Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students for the event. Also, for the first time in history, Ilvermorny students will be joining a British School of Magic for the event."
Hermione and Daphne shared a glance, Lavender Brown and Padma Patil giggling in front of them.
"I will be most displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the School that day," Professor McGonagall continued, looking at Black. "Dress robes will be worn, and it will start at eight on Christmas Eve, lasting till midnight at the Great Hall. Also, the Yule Ball will be opened by each School's Champions from last year's Internal Tournaments."
Hermione grabbed Daphne's wrist, who, for the first time, also gained a blush.
"Open?" Ron asked, puzzled. "Open how? Open what?"
"I think we have to kick the Great Hall's doors open," Black said.
Harry's eyes lit up. "Like they do in movies?"
Draco facepalmed.
Anger danced across Professor McGonagall's nose. "Open the ball with a dance, you babbling, bumbling band of baboons!" she snarled, colors draining off Harry, Ron, and Black's faces. "It just so happens that all six Champions from the second year who qualified for the first stage of the Triwizard Tournament are here in this class."
Professor McGonagall's eyes shifted from the colorless faces of the three boys to Draco, Hermione, and Daphne.
"Students from third year onwards will be allowed to join the Ball," she told the Class, keeping her eyes on the six Champions. "You can invite a younger student from the second year, if you wish. Regardless of who you bring to the Ball, make sure to get yourself a partner."
"But, Professor…" Harry asked.
"No, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, finally looking away. "You cannot back down… Hogwarts has a reputation to hold."
With that, she dismissed the class, giving the boys the toughest homework to date.
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