Justin Finch-Fletchley's Weakness

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Potter and Zhou had been sitting on the bench outside the Gryffindor lounge for half an hour now, waiting for Justin. Despite Finch-Fletchley being quite a long time late, they weren't too angry because they had spent that half hour chatting sweetly about various topics.

Harry's mood was excellent. He had probably never felt so good before. First Justin had defeated Fleur in a duel, and Harry was genuinely happy for his friend, then Zhou had come up to him and apologised for her distrust of his abilities, and then Fred and George had been putting canary fudge in the Slytherins' food for a week, and the students had occasionally turned into birds, much to the delight of almost every other faculty and perhaps even the teachers. Except Professor Snape, of course, who had managed to uncover the Weasley twins and take so many points off them that they had practically caught up with Hufflepuff.

Things were also excellent on the personal front. After the first trial of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Zhou Chang had reconsidered her stance on Harry Potter's participation in the tournament and now fully supported all of his aspirations.

- You were great, Harry! - she said, smiling broadly, in early December. - I'm sorry I doubted you. You really are worthy of the Three Wizard Tournament, and I thought you were just having fun, but you weren't. Not only did you compete on equal terms with the adult students, but you were better than all of them put together! Next time, I will trust you unconditionally, no matter what!

Now, waiting for Justin in the company of his girlfriend, Harry was slowly, as they called it, melting. Listening to Zhou Chang's lovely voice, he thought about whether or not she would be in the top ten if someone were to compile a list of the most beautiful girls on Earth. After some thought, Harry still decided that his girlfriend might not be the most beautiful girl on the planet, but she should definitely be in the top 1,000. And probably not in the last place.

So, after chatting with Zhou for half an hour, Potter had almost forgotten why they were here in the first place. As Harry thought back to the purpose of their wait, he hoped that if Finch-Fletchley was going to show up, he wasn't going to do it anytime soon. But all good things come to an end sometime, finally Justin Finch-Fletchley appeared from around the corner with a silly grin on his face. His stride was so crooked that there was no doubt in Harry's mind as to what he was doing or who he was doing it with.

- Was he drunk? - Even Zhou realised Justin's condition from his movements alone. And after all, she didn't even know the details of Granny and Finch-Fletchley's relationship. - Was he really going to Hermione like that?

- It was probably just a way to take the edge off, not the first time, by the way. But don't worry, I'll fix it.

Harry walked towards Justin, and before he got a couple of metres away, he pulled out his wand and exclaimed:

- Sobrietus!

The sobering spell took effect almost instantly. Finch-Fletchley's face stopped looking dopey, his gait evened out, and the redness on his face disappeared.

- How did you do that? - Justin wondered.

- I learnt it from Anton. Sobrietus. A sobering spell. My grandmother told me that you could use it to drink vodka all day long. So I borrowed that knowledge in case you got carried away. Tell me, were you really going to go to Hermione's drunk?

- No, I just had a few drinks for courage, and-" He noticed Zhou. - Wait, what's she doing here?

- Sitting," Harry said, remembering Finch-Fletchley's similar answer to his question about Snape about a year ago. - Actually, she volunteered to support you, as I did.

- You shouldn't have brought her! - Justin looked a little frustrated and angry. He seemed to be taking the ball and the invitation quite seriously, despite all the wailing.

- If you're embarrassed to tell her about your insecurities, how are you going to find the strength to dance with Hermione in front of the entire Great Hall? А?

Justin didn't have anything to say to that. Harry decided that he had won here, but their dialogue was over. He pointed at Justin and looked at Zhou:

- Meet our humble lover!

- Stop it! I'm not in love! - He got mad again.

- That's what I'm saying, humble. He hasn't made up his mind for a week now, and when I... Ahem... Never mind... Not a good example," Potter was uncomfortable mentioning Justin's actions so Harry could find the resolve to confess his feelings for Zhou.

- Look, don't worry so much, Harry told me everything," Chang tried to reassure Finch-Fletchley. - I'm sure she's just waiting for you to approach her and ask her to the ball. I know that many of my friends have already chosen a suitor, but they are just waiting for that suitor to have the courage to ask them.

- She's not waiting for anything! You don't understand!

Harry watched his friend with a smile. All these years he thought that Justin was the kind of person who was not afraid of almost anything, he was never embarrassed, he always had enough courage to go for conflict and sometimes even went for it on purpose, he also gave advice to everyone around him on how someone should start dating this or that girl. And what was really going on? Who knew that Finch-Fletchley's weak point would turn out to be so unexpected. I mean, Justin was probably giving out advice on purpose and acting all swaggering so that no one would think he was afraid of girls!

- Justin, Justin, you were so brave," Potter held back a laugh. - "I'll invite Hermione, if she says no, I'll invite Bones."

- Stop it, it's not funny, are you here to cheer me up or the other way round?

- Cheering you up, of course! - Harry turned to Chang. - 'Zhou, tell him how I asked you to the ball.

- It was after my ancient Runes lesson," she began to tell him as if the story had been going on for about a year. - Harry waited until I was alone, came up to me and asked me to the ball. Of course, I said yes.

- See? It's not that complicated! - Potter started gesticulating. - You go up to Hermione, say, "Hermione, I want to ask you to the ball, would you like to go with me?". You get her to say yes, and you walk back, happy. What do you have to be embarrassed about? You're the champion of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Fred and George bought us fancy party robes, you've been learning to dance for who knows how many years. Apart from the fact that you've broken up with half the world, you'd be a desirable candidate?

- I can't do that! - Justin paced back and forth. - You're in a relationship - of course you're going to the ball with each other! Hermione and I have barely spoken to each other! And I've learnt that she's furious with me, you and the twins for breaking the rules of the Tournament... No, that's silly. Of course she's going to say no. Maybe I shouldn't go to the ball at all. Right, I'll hide in an owlery somewhere where they won't find me.

- Well, that's a tough case. Should we do something about him? Any ideas? - Harry turned to Zhou.

- Why don't you ask Fred and George? Since you're friends with them, I'm sure they could persuade him to invite Hermione.

- Too cruel," Harry shook his head. - They'll be fine, but because of their methods, Justin won't go near any more girls. We need to do it in a different way, a Justin way... Right, I've got it!

Potter turned to Finch-Fletchley, who was in his own thoughts, and as if by the way, asked:

- 'Justin, I bet you wouldn't mind going to the Holy Ball with Hermione, would you?

An interested smile flashed across Finch-Fletchley's face for a moment. However, it disappeared almost immediately.

- Do you really think it will work? I'm not getting anything out of this, so I don't see the point in arguing.

- Hmmm... Makes sense," Harry thought for a moment, he was quick to point out the downside of his plan. To get Justin interested, you have to offer him something and at the same time make him give him something important to him that he doesn't want to give up in case of failure.

- Okay, how about this? If you go to the prom with Hermione, I'll also invite the person I hate the most. If you don't go, then you have to invite the person you hate the most.

- Hey! What are you doing? - Zhou was indignant. - We already agreed!

- Zhou, you and I are going together anyway. It's just that if I lose the bet, I'll dance with someone else for a while. It's not for me, it's for Justin. And I don't think the man I hate the most is going to say yes to an invitation. You don't mind, do you? We can't dance with you all the time anyway. By the way, did I tell you I can't dance? And that I'm gonna dance with gloves on? I think so

Zhou was obviously against Potter's idea, but she still agreed for some reason:

- 'Fine, do as you please.

Tonks had once told Harry that if a girl said something like that in an angry tone of voice, it meant something along the lines of 'If you keep insisting on this, I will destroy you and wipe out all your relatives.' This advice suited the current situation. Potter was already thinking about backing down when Justin suddenly spoke up:

- I agree. But everyone chooses their own person to be their opponent, okay?

- Deal! - Harry decided that friendship was more important and Zhou should accept it. - Consider it a bet. So, who do you want to pair me up with?

- Professor McGonagall!

Harry wanted to instantly agree, thereby pretending not to care who Justin named, but the agreement stuck in his throat. Professor McGonagall?

- What?" he mumbled.

- What have you heard! You're inviting Professor McGonagall if Hermione agrees to go to the ball with me! - Justin was unrecognisable; a minute ago he had been ready to fall through the ground, but now he was almost glowing with joy. - It's too late to backtrack, we have a deal!

Even Zhou seemed to have changed her mind about being angry with Potter. She clearly wasn't going to be jealous of McGonagall.

- Okay, okay, okay, okay," Harry was frantically thinking of how to respond to such a move. - 'Then you're going with Draco Malfoy!Finch-Fletchley's face stretched out, he clearly hadn't expected such a turn. And Potter had already come up with a better idea.

- No, I've changed my mind, not Draco Malfoy. If you won't go to the ball with Hermione Granger, you'll invite Severus Snape!

A silence ensued. Harry savoured his brilliant plan and Justin's reaction. Now he would definitely do anything to invite Hermione.

Zhou looked at Potter perplexed, she couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. Finch-Fletchley, on the other hand, was clearly panicking.

- No, that won't do! The partner must be of the opposite sex!

- That wasn't specified in the bet. And now it's too late to change the terms! We had a bet, you said so yourself!

- Not if I come with Snape... I don't even want to say it! Seriously, Harry, that's too much, there's a limit to every joke. You can only go to the ball with a partner of the opposite sex, Zhou, prove it!

- Yes, Zhou, prove it!

They both stared at Chang, who was already somewhat regretting that she had even gotten into this discussion in the first place. She was faced with the choice of what was more precious to her. Her boyfriend's point of view or justice. Harry had hoped that she would choose him, but alas....

- I'm sorry, Harry," she faded her eyes. - But Justin's right. A joke should have a boundary. A partner for Finch-Fletchley should be female.

Justin cast an appreciative glance at Chang, but Harry frowned. His idea wasn't for Finch-Fletchley to invite Severus Snape to the ball, but for him to do everything he could to convince Hermione to go to the ball with him. And that would be a good thing, primarily for Justin himself. But Zhou didn't trust him, and she'd said she'd always be on his side. The plan was a failure.

- Tonks would have backed me up," he muttered.

- Tonks might have been supportive, but I'm your girlfriend for now, not her, so don't give me that," Zhou gave Harry a disapproving look.

- Okay, don't fight," Justin was in a happy mood again. - Since we've decided that the partner should be of the opposite sex, why don't you pick one for me?

- Professor McGonagall? - Harry suggested.

- You can't repeat yourself!

For about thirty seconds Harry pondered who else Justin hated. There were too many candidates, half of Hogwarts, all of Beauxbaton, and some of Durmstrang's personalities. It was hard to pick the worst candidate. Maybe we should think about who Justin himself hated.

- What about Marietta? - Chang suddenly suggested.

- Which one is that? - Finch-Fletchley asked.

- My girlfriend! You hit on her a couple of days ago.

- Was it when Anton was teaching him how to ride a bear? - Harry smirked, remembering that moment.

Zhou nodded.

- I don't know who Anton is, but yeah, that's her. Why do you need a bear, by the way? - She asked.

- 'Anton Gran is the Durmstrang champion, he's also the one who gave me the bear,' Justin replied. - I named him Harry Junior.

- Yeah, and I decided that if I was going to have a bear, it was going to be Justin Junior," Harry remarked.

- Well, for Anton to give you a bear, you'd have to drink as much vodka as there is water in a person, and you haven't even tasted it yet," Justin smirked. - Okay, we're getting distracted. About Marietta. She seems fine, I agree, so have you decided?

Zhou nodded and Harry shook his head.

- 'No, that's too easy. I, I think there are better candidates. After your speeches at the claw table and your anecdotes about France, I think any French girl would do... Right," Harry had an epiphany. - Fleur Delacour!

Fleur was the perfect candidate. Her conflicts with Justin were living proof that the main purpose of the Three Wizard Tournament wasn't networking. She was the one who hated Finch-Fletchley. And Justin himself probably had similar feelings for her.

Justin turned pale, but after a moment he was back to normal.

- You do realise she's going to turn me down, don't you? I wouldn't lose anything if I asked her out.

- Well, yes," Harry had to admit. - But do you really think Professor McGonagall would accept my invitation? The point is to try, not to agree.

- All right, we're agreed. I'm off," Finch-Fletchley looked towards the Gryffindor drawing room. - Do you have the password to the lounge?

- Of course, Fred and George shared it, the password is 'The Lion's Roar'."

Justin nodded and headed towards the Gryffindor common room. As he progressed, his determination literally melted before his eyes. After calling out the password, he reluctantly turned around and said:

- You know, I think I'll probably pass after all," he suddenly headed down a neighbouring corridor. - The price of the bet is not material, I can easily invite Fleur Delacour if it will spare me the ordeal!

- Hey! Stop!" called Harry to Finch-Fletchley, but the man only shook his head and turned away from them. - Halt! Accio Justin!

The tantalising spell went off before Finch-Fletchley could get his wand out. Justin fell to the floor and rolled towards Harry under the magical force.

- Falls! - Harry cancelled the spell. - You know what, Justin, I only suggested this argument so that you would decide to be yourself for a while and get up the courage to ask a girl to the ball. My plan didn't work, it's easier for you to humiliate yourself and ask the charmbaton girl who you've been at war with more this month than I've been at war with Malfoy all this time. Well, here's another motivation for you. If you don't invite Hermione, then I'll go to the Gryffindor drawing room myself, approach Granger, and tell her that you've liked her for a long time, and you'd like to ask her to the ball, but you're hesitant. If you're more comfortable with that option, then please, you can go!

Potter expressed everything he thought about the situation. In his opinion, it had really gone over the edge already, and the very fact that Justin couldn't ask someone to the ball didn't settle in his mind. To him, it was the same as finding out as if the Weasley twins were actually worried about breaking school rules, Tonks was concerned for Professor Snape's well-being, Moody was constantly walking around without his wand, and Dumbledore was running around the corridors naked at night. In other words, Finch-Fletchley being afraid to ask Hermione to the Christmas Ball was breaking out of the pattern.

- Harry, stop it," Chang exclaimed. - 'You're friends, you can't do that!

- No, Chou, he's right," Justin got up off the floor. - I'm acting like a woman. How do you put up with me?

Finch-Fletchley walked over to the portrait of the Full Lady, who was watching the conflict closely, and said: "Lion's roar," and walked off into the depths of the drawing room.

- 'Can I ask you not to tell anyone about my friend's obfuscation? - Harry walked over to the painting.

- 'Of course, young man,' The full lady nodded her head. - I won't tell anyone, only my friend Violet and a few others. I shall be as mute as a mermaid!

- I see. Confundus! - Harry cast a spell on the Complete Lady. - Forget what happened here!

Just five minutes later, Justin emerged from the Gryffindor lounge. It wasn't clear from the look on his face how it had gone, but he seemed to be back to his old self.

- Five minutes? She agreed that quickly? - Zhou wondered.

- 'No,' Justin shook his head. - She refused.

- Refused? - Zhou clearly hadn't expected such a turn. She put her hands to her mouth in fright. - We're so sorry, Justin, we're so sorry. We didn't think she'd say no.

Zhou spoke for both of them, however Potter was completely at odds with her words. Riddle had told him not to take the blame when there was none. And in this situation, his guilt wasn't even in the slightest. Hermione could either agree or refuse, it wasn't up to him. Justin, on the other hand, needed to get over his fear.

- I don't care," Justin waved his hand. - It's okay. I was a little sour, but it's okay now.

Justin held up his hands and smiled, but Harry couldn't be fooled so easily. He knew Finch-Fletchley had taken the rejection very painfully. He couldn't even remember if anyone had ever turned Justin down or not. He needed something to distract him from the event.

- Well, it's gonna be just like you said. You've got a proven track record with Bones, remember? But before you do, since you lost, I suggest you come up with a speech for Fleur that you won't be ashamed of.

- Yeah, that's right, I already have an idea," Justin smirked slyly. - An invitation and an insult in verse. It'll be great, it'll just take some quick writing, but I can do that. It's a good thing I've been trained in many useless things, among which was the skill of composing poetry.