Slytherin Bonds

"He's so cute." Tracey smiled as she petted Thor who was standing on the arm rest of the chair she was sat on.

"Oh, I see how it is." Harry said in an amused voice as he looked back and forth between Tracey and Daphne who had Jet resting on her shoulders. "You two worm into a relationship with me just to steal my familiars." He said in a mock-hurt voice.

"Of course," Daphne said, playing along. "we wouldn't have to if you took better care of them." She added with a grin. Any further response was cut off as the common room door opened and Professor Snape walked in.

"Cease your yammering," Snape said when a few Slytherin's hadn't yet stopped talking. Once everyone was silent he continued speaking. "soon the winter holidays will arrive, many of you usually choose to go home, thank Merlin. But this year there is an event that many of you may feel is worth staying for. A traditional part of the Tri-Wizard tournament is the 'Yule Ball', a ball which will be held here at Hogwarts. For the more simple minded of you, it is a dance." He said. Several girls began whispering to each other as a few boys groaned. "Enough," Snape called and the room went silent again. "if you wish to attend the ball then you must remember what and who you are representing, that would be yourself, your houses and the noble house of Slytherin. Slytherin house has commanded the respect of the wizarding world for nearly ten centuries, I will not - I repeat, I WILL NOT - have you all exhibiting anything less than your best behaviour.

In fact I would appreciate it if many of you did better than your best, I'm aware I may be asking for miracles for some but for the love of Salazar, do not embarrass this house. Should you embarrass yourself or the house then expect to feel the full brunt of my displeasure. If you are attending then you will wear dress robes, you will be allowed to bring a date, you may only attend if you are fourth year or above. Any younger students will only be allowed to go if an older student is accompanying them.

The ball will start at six pm on Christmas day and will last until midnight, any misbehaviour and I will deal with you personally, is that understood?" He asked.

"Yes sir." The Slytherin's all responded.

"Good," Snape said before he turned to Harry. "Potter, as a champion you will be starting the first dance with your date, unlike the others you will NEED to bring one to dance with at least. Is that understood?"

"Yes, it is, sir." Harry nodded.

"Good." Snape said before he turned and walked away. Harry wasn't surprised by Snape's sudden departure, the potions master seemed to be doing his best to avoid Harry, not that Harry was going to complain about that.

"Are you going to the ball with Angela?" Theo asked Harry.

"Alas, it's not meant to be." Angela said with a small sigh as she walked over to the group. "I will of course come with Harry in the unlikely event he cannot find a date, but it would be far better if he goes with someone else. If he goes with me then many will simply start claiming that he ordered me to go with him."

"So you need to find a date? Good luck with that." Blaise said.

"I don't need luck." Harry said before he turned to Daphne. "Daphne, would you like to accompany me to the ball?" Harry asked.

"M...me?" Daphne blinked and looked at him with a slightly dropped jaw. "Why me?"

"Well, you're a smart and beautiful girl, we're roughly the same age, you're a pureblood from a wealthy family which will satisfy those obsessed with blood and all of that. But if you're looking for a few important reasons then how about I start with the fact that most of the girls will only really want to go with me because I'm the famous and rich boy-who-lived or because I'm a champion, you just see me as Harry. Plus you're a great friend of mine and I believe I would enjoy a night out with you." Harry answered, his green eyes locking onto her blue ones.

"Oh," Daphne said, blushing slightly. "in that case...I...accept." She said in a slightly shaky voice.

"Excellent." Harry smiled briefly. "Now, I just need to learn how to dance." He added with a frown.

"I can teach you, Master." Angela offered. "You as well, if you want." She added to Daphne.

"Oh, I already know how to dance." Daphne replied. "But I'll still come along just to help Harry practise. I imagine the Professor's might start up some classes to teach people."

"Professor McGonagall is probably going to teach the Gryffindors." Blaise replied.

"Poor soul." Harry said in a dry voice. "She'll have her work cut out for her. Still, I'd rather be taught by Professor McGonagall then Professor Snape."

"Definitely." Draco snorted with amusement.

"Draco, you spoilt miscreant," Harry said in a fairly good impersonation of Snape. "put...your hand...on...my...waist." He said, earning laughs from the others.

"That was pretty good." Theo chuckled.

"Thanks, I..." Whatever Harry was about to say was interrupted by a squawk from Thor, the little bird quickly jumped into the air and flapped his wings to push himself up before he reached out with his beak and caught something. Harry looked at him as he landed back on the chair and saw that he was holding a beetle by its wing. "Hmm, didn't know thunderbirds ate bugs." Harry said as he watched the bug try desperately to try and escape from Thor.

"That beetle, there's something wrong with it!" Jet hissed. "It's magical!" Harry's eyes narrowed, he took his wand out and held his free hand out to Thor.

"Thor, give it to me, please." Harry said. Thor shook his head, shaking the beetle at the same time. "Thor, please give it to me." Harry said, earning another head shake. "If you give it to me then I'll give you a treat." Harry said, Thor paused and looked at Harry for several seconds before he dropped the beetle into Harry's hands, it tried to escape but Harry quickly stopped that from happening by closing his hand. "Thank you, Thor." Harry nodded to the bird before he stood up and held the beetle hand out, he shook his hand a couple of times to shake up the beetle, he aimed his wand and quickly fired an animagus reversal spell the second his hand opened.

A second later a woman dropped on the floor, and not just any woman. Nearly every Slytherin student was in the room so they all stared at her as she shook her head while climbing to her feet, once she was able to shake off the dizziness she looked around and saw everyone was looking at her.

"Uh...hi..." She said in a weak voice.

"Hello Rita," Harry said in an obviously fake pleasant voice. "you know, I don't think there has ever been a word that will ever accurately describe how fucked up you are right now."

"Tracey," Daphne said in a quiet voice as she and Tracey got ready for bed. "are you alright?" She asked. "You were really quiet...earlier...you know...before the whole drama with Rita Skeeter." Daphne said, that was most definitely a big surprise for Slytherin house. The last she had seen of Skeeter was her body (which had been stunned by Angela when she tried to escape) being levitated out of the common room by a pair of aurors. Rita would definitely be in Azkaban soon, if not for being an illegal animagus (which everyone highly suspected she was) then most definitely for sneaking into a castle and the Slytherin common room before spying on children.

"I'm fine, Daphne." Tracey said with a weak smile.

"Hey," Daphne said as she looked at her. "I'm really sorry about..."

"No, it's fine, Daphne." Tracey waved her off. "You're ready for it and I wish you the best of luck, really." Tracey said, she wanted to be in Daphne's position but she just didn't feel like she was ready to enter into a relationship with Harry, at least not until whatever was happening between him and Daphne had been worked out."

"Thank you," Daphne smiled at her. "just please don't be upset, you know...if the plan works then it'll be you and me with Harry."

"I..." Tracey blushed a bright red. "I...I'd rather we focus on getting Harry with you."

"Well...it's not like I'm going to argue against that." Daphne said in a jokey voice as a grin came onto her face, something which earned her a pillow to the face from Tracey who smirked at her before the two descended into an all-out pillow war.

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