Yule Ball

Thunder strikes again and the Hogwarts students ran across the open grounds under the pouring rain. Some used their school robes as a shield from the heavy rain although it’s no use since they will still get wet. Some using their books ran towards the other end of the castle for their next class. It was a typical school day inside the castle.

The fourth year students hurriedly left the classroom after their new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor dismissed them. Professor Mad-eye Moody is by far, the scariest and toughest professor of them comparing to the last ones they had. Moody’s scarred face and his magical eye didn’t make the atmosphere less terrifying as he discussed about the unforgivable curses for his very first day of teaching the fourth years.

“What do you think about our new professor?” Donghae asked his friends while they were walking downwards the great circular staircase to their next class.

“He is wicked! Although I missed Professor Lupin, I think we got another decent one this year,” his fellow Gryffindor and best friend, Eunhyuk exclaimed. “He knows what it is out in the real world.”

“But we aren’t supposed to learn those unforgivable curses until our... sixth year,” Kyuhyun, their youngest friend from Ravenclaw said. He was busy putting his The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection book inside his bag. Next time he will not bring the book since it seems that they will be utilizing the wands more often.

“He’s terrifying... but I think I’ll manage. It is an honour to be one of his students,” told Ryeowook, their friend from Hufflepuff. “I heard from dad’s stories about him as a very skilled auror! And I’ve read snippets of articles of him on The Daily Prophet.”

“My uncle had worked with him during the first war with You-Know-Who. Sadly, he got killed by one of those Death Eaters that they caught and sent in Azkaban,” Donghae said.

Both Ryeowook and Donghae came from families of pureblood. They share a lot more knowledge especially in history regarding the Wizarding world, aside from being exposed to the reality since birth. Meanwhile, it was the reverse for Eunhyuk who happened to be a muggleborn. It was a shock for him when he learned that he is a wizard but with the help of his fellow Gryffindor, Donghae, he adjusted to the magical world fine. He’d also introduced things about the muggle world to Eunhyuk which interests his best friend so much. Although Donghae unintentionally broke Eunhyuk’s racket when he tried to introduce the badminton sport to him during their summer break.

While Eunhyuk and Donghae matched well as best friends or perhaps more than that as they age, Kyuhyun got along very well with Ryeowook, despite being in different houses. Kyuhyun is a halfblood, and was exposed to both the muggle and Wizarding world by his parents. With this, he blends well with his three friends.

“Ryeong, do you have another extra quill? I don’t think my quill will last until the end of our lessons.”

“I have few extras here. I’ll let you borrow them later when we reach the classroom,” Ryeowook replied. “It must be in the bottom of my bag.”

“Thanks, and I will sit beside you. Save it for me,”

“Oh Kyu, everyone knows that the seat beside Ryeowook is your place. And that we don’t understand it when you were not sitting together.  ‘They probably fought with each other?’ Those were the whispers of the class when that happens,”

Ryeowook chuckled. He was used to all the teasing he gets for being so close with Kyuhyun. In fact, sometimes it makes his heart feel light and happy although he never told about this to anyone. “They must have forgotten that we were in different houses. The four of us, actually,” he pointed out.

Eunhyuk didn’t get to reply because his attention was diverted to the large crowd of students gathering at the foot of the marble staircase. They were staring at a newly posted signboard.

“What was that?” Donghae asked the three who were as clueless as he is.

Kyuhyun saw a fellow Ravenclaw coming from the crowd and passing by the four of them at the staircase. He went down a little step forward to meet the chaser of their Ravenclaw Quidditch team. “Hyung have you seen that?” he pointed at the end of the staircase. “What was that all about?”

“It’s all about that Tri-wizard Tournament,” Shindong informed them. “It says that the delegations from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang will arrive at 6 o’clock on Friday,”

“Tri-wizard tournament?” Eunhyuk asked.

“Remember Professor Dumbledore’s speech at the beginning of the school year? He mentioned a bit of it,” Shindong informed before excusing himself to go to his classroom.

Ryeowook and Donghae beamed at each other being aware of what the said event was all about. “Hyuk, it’s going to be the best year we have in Hogwarts!”

“The Yule Ball is approaching – a traditional part of the Tri-wizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests,” Professor Mcgonagall announced among her fourth year students after one of her Transfigurations class.

Upon hearing the announcement, the students beamed with glee at the prospect of attending a Ball with the ladies from Beauxbaton or with the gentlemen from Durmstrang.

“Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above – although you may invite a younger student if you wish –“

The girls let out a giggle as they started whispering with each other on who they wished to be their partner for the night. Eunhyuk exchanged looks with his best friend Donghae, an unspoken agreement have been made between them.

“You two are going to the ball together?” Kyuhyun whispered to Eunhyuk who was sitting beside him. Eunhyuk just flashed him his signature gummy smile.

Kyuhyun sighed while shaking his head. Of course, his two best mates will go together; those two have been inseparable since he met them three years ago. He had always expected them to get together and although they’re still too young to be in a relationship, it seems like they are in a mutual understanding already.

“It’s now your chance Kyu,” Eunhyuk kept his voice low not to be caught by Professor Mcgonagall chatting while she’s in the middle of announcing the important details of the Yule Ball to the class.

“You should ask him to be your partner for the dance,” Eunhyuk added before staring at the back of their other friend who was sitting in front of them.

Kyuhyun stole a quick glance on his best friend before looking down his Transfiguration book on his desk. He could feel the fast beating of his heart.

“Ask him before someone else does,” his friend whispered but kept quiet when Professor Mcgonagall walked behind them. They kept their mouth shut instead, afraid of another detention.

“Respective head of the houses will schedule practices for dance specifically for waltz. I insist that you should attend these special classes and at the same time,” she passed and adjusted her eyeglasses. “I want you to decide and choose your partners as soon as possible,”

Another round of murmurs and giggles were heard from the girls in the class.

“I’m going to send an invitation to Siwon,” one of the girls said who has a crush on the prefect of Slytherin house.

“I should ask the Weasley twins if they have some love potions on sale,” her friend whispered.

“Let’s go together after class!!” they giggled together.

Ignoring her students Professor Mcgonagall waved her wand and her books and quill disappeared on the teacher’s desk. “That’s all for now. Class dismissed,” she said except that she asked Harry to stay behind to discuss some things.

Ryeowook stood up from his chair and turned around to face his friends.”I think I need to go to the Owlery. I need to tell mom about this.”

“Hae and I have Divinations after this so we can’t accompany you,” Eunhyuk said and he hung his arms on Kyuhyun’s shoulders. “Anyway, here’s Kyu. You two can go together!” and with that Eunhyuk along with Donghae left the room.

“Do they really have Divinations? I thought – ”

“Don’t mind those two. They probably want to spend some time together,” Kyuhyun interrupted. “You should’ve seen the stares they were giving each other while Professor Mcgonagall was announcing the ball.”

Ryeowook sniggered. “Things were progressing fast for the two of them, don’t they?”

“We should be used to it already,” Kyuhyun said blushing and suddenly conscious of being alone with his best friend. He grew more nervous when Ryeowook took his hand and pulled him along towards the Owlery.

“That was a lame excuse Hyuk! I’m surprised Wook believed you,” Donghae pointed out. The two were walking back to the Gryffindor common room. They figured out that was the best hideout for the two for the moment if they don’t want to be seen by Kyuhyun and Ryeowook.

“I don’t think so. I didn’t give him time to interrogate me,” told Eunhyuk. “And I’m positive Kyuhyun was supposed to expose our lie if we didn’t left early. He knows that I’m aware of his budding feelings for our dear friend,”

“Fairy lights...” he said the new password to the Fat Lady and she let them in. The common room was empty probably because the rest of Gryffindors were still in their classes. Those who were in the same year with them have gone to their next class and the others who doesn’t have class – like the two of them – must be wandering around the school grounds.

“Are we going to help them get together? Like how they did to us?” Donghae asked sitting down on the couch in front of the fireplace.

“Let’s observe them first,” Eunhyuk replied. “If there’s no progress then I guess we need to act as cupids for their sake,” he head towards the staircase leading to the boy’s dormitory.

“I’m going to change. You’ll stay here?”

Donghae nodded. “For a while. Let me rest here first before the others arrive and start crowding the common room.”

And with that Eunhyuk left him all by himself.

Snow covered the mountains that can be seen on the view from the Owlery. It was the first snow fall since autumn kicked in indicating that winter is finally here.

 “I trust mom’s fashion sense to pick the dress robe that I will fancy,” Ryeowook said as he watched his owl fly away carrying the letter he wrote for his mother. Kyuhyun stood next to him, his hands shoved inside his robes pocket. He had calmed down a bit and kept himself from acting awkward towards his best friend. He cursed Eunhyuk for all of this but he couldn’t fully blame him. It was his heart... in which he can’t help but fall for his closest friend.

 “Well I do hope I can trust my mom as well. Hope that my sister wouldn’t arrive until mom was done with her holiday shopping.

“Ahra has a nice taste in clothing,” Ryeowook defended Kyuhyun’s older sister. She is six years older than them and was also a graduate of Hogwarts. She is now working for the Ministry of Magic.

“I would rather wear a muggle suit than a dress robe chosen by her. She’ll make me look funny,” he insisted.

Ryeowook smiled in amusement at the sibling’s never ending silly war with each other. How he wished he had a sister or a brother to tease just like the Chos.

“Let’s go back to the castle Ryeong, I can’t handle the cold anymore,” And they strode back to their own houses – Kyuhyun climbing through the Ravenclaw tower and  Ryeowook going down the basement near the kitchen where the Hufflepuffs are.

Ryeowook took off his scarf