HP X LOTM : Please Call Me Mr. Error.

With the drive of a fool, Loki waited at the edge of the Black Lake for someone to arrive.

While he did, he thought back to the time in the Transfiguration class today morning.

"Listen to me!" Professor McGonagall said as she raised her voice and shouted over the students who were sitting around the benches that had been arranged on the sides of the classroom. 

"As expected of an ancient competition like the Triwizard tournament, it has its own traditions and customs. As such it is customary to have an opening ball at Yule where students with their pairs participate in a dance."

The crowd of students got rowdy almost immediately with some even whistling.

Loki was confused about why the tradition was held but kept quiet nonetheless and paid attention to McGonagall who was clearly a little embarrassed to speak about such things.

"The champions will open the ball with their partners and I expect each of you to find one.", McGonagall said looking at an embarrassed and panicked Harry and a calm Loki who just nodded with a smile.

Several girls looked in the direction of both the boys, hoping to be chosen to be the queen of the night.

The rest of the class was spent with Professor McGonagall describing the dress codes and expected behaviours from the students, she did her best and explained without seeming too strict so that the students wouldn't try to rebel while also maintaining tension so that the students wouldn't stray too much.

Several girls rushed towards Loki and Harry after the class, trying to ask them for a date. And while Harry ran for his life, Loki calmly explained-

"I'm sorry, I already have a date for the night."

The girls' moods sank but they immediately flipped the switch and changed when another girl cleverly asked, "Who's she!?"

Loki smiled, "Wouldn't you like to know. But I'm sorry she's chosen to keep it a secret for now." and walked away, leaving all the girls to their dreams.

As Loki walked away he lightly shook his head.

'Already have a date?'

'More like I hope I don't get rejected by her.'

'She's been helping me from the moment I met her with something or another.'

'In place of the only obvious choice had she had been studying at Hogwarts right now, I have to ask Mione, it feels like the right choice to make.'

'I'm sure Elane would understand that I can't dance with her here…'

The familiar *crunch* of stepping on stones brought Loki out of his thoughts as he looked at the girl who'd arrived because he'd called her.

"What happened Loki? Why'd you call me here?" Daphne asked with a slight smile.

Loki looked at her with a frustrated smile and said, "Don't you already know?"

Daphne bit her knuckles to control her laughter and then nodded, "Yeah I know, I can see how red your face is. So do you want me to answer?"

"Why're you making it so weird, like I'm asking you to do something uncouth."

"Haha~ I can't help it! Who'd have thought the great Loki! The Fourth Champion of the Triwizard Tournament would ask me for help!?"

Loki *sighed* and shook his head.

"I dunno Daphne, so what's your answer?"

"Yeah, fine! I'll help you."

"Ha~ I'm just afraid of Tory doing something to sabotage this ship before it sails."

"Don't remind me about it! You don't know how hard it was to convince her."

Loki *sighed* knowing Astoria could be a bit too much sometimes but he shook his head and looked at Daphne anyway, "So how're we going to do this?"

In another part of the castle, Hermione left the Library and walked to a window with her books, the fresh air was something she desperately needed after having to listen to the hurdle of girls giggling and gaggling over which boy they'd go out with to the yule ball.

"*sigh* how is this more important to them than improving their skills? There's so much danger lurking everywhere! I hope Ethan has gotten a grip on those smuggled items so nothing too bad has happened ye-"

Hermione froze in her tracks as her sights fell on the scene outside the window facing the black lake.

Her legs wordlessly brought her closer to the window as she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

'He's goi-'

'He's going with Daphne?'

'Haha~ I guess he finally realised Daph had a little crush on him!!!!!'

'I was tired of his density!!'

'But still!!!! Bloody hell!!!!'

Hermione had gotten so happy seeing Daphne and Loki together than she almost jumped onto her tippy toes to look at the scene from a little closer, no matter how insignificant it was.

Hermione turned around and quickly walked away. Her face had taken on a small pout as she walked towards the Great Hall for lunch with some dissatisfaction because she couldn't spy on their conversation even though she could see they were talking about something secretive.

'Hmpf! The next time he asks me for some help with an article in the newspaper, I'll kick him to go to Daphne if he doesn't tell me that he decided to take her to the ball instead before he reveals it during the Yule Ball night.'

'Idiot…'

Munching elegantly Hermione casually ate a little lunch, though her lunch was cut short when she heard Harry and Ron's conversation.

"Who're we going to go to the ball with!?" Ron asked Harry with a panicked look.

Harry shrugged not knowing but then his eyes fell on Hermione, "Maybe Her-"

Ron immediately interrupted, "Her? Seriously Harry? People will think we lean the other way if one of us goes out with her…"

Hermione's straight face immediately turned into a frown, she picked up the book she was holding and even without hitting Ron walked away from her lunch, preferring to go to the calm of the Gryffindor Common room where she assumed no one would disturb her.

As she walked away Hermione heard Harry whisper to Ron-

"I think you angered Mio-"

"....it's not like I was lying…and what is she gonna do? She doesn't even have any other friends."

Hermione frowned and a tear threatened to break out of her eyes.

'Did Loki also think about me like this?'

'Is that why he chose Daphne over me?'

'Am I that ugly?'

'I'll punch him the next time I see him before asking him about it.'

As Hermione climbed the stairs back to the common room she was stopped in her tracks by a boy when she bumped into his shoulder and dropped her books.

"Ah! I'm sorry." Hermione immediately bent low and hid her face behind her hair as she picked up everything that had fallen down. She took great care to make sure that her ink bottle didn't spill on anything.

"Oh! Hee'r'mee'oine?" the boy said as he ducked down to help Hermione pick up her books.

Hermione looked up a little startled by the way her name was pronounced but became surprised when she saw the boy looking at her with a smile.

'Viktor Krum? Why's he here near the Gryffindor Common room?'

'I thought they stayed in their boat all day.'

"I was looking for you!" Krum said with a smile.

"Huh? Me? Wh-"

"Would you like to be my partner for the yule ball?" He asked with a little embarrassment.

Hermione's eyes widened and she suddenly felt stunned, the books in her hand slipped out once again and were about to crash into the floor but Krum in a remarkable display of reflexes caught them.

"Ah!!!" Hermione shouted, a little startled, causing Krum to look at her with confusion and worry.

"Are you alright Heer'mee'oine?" Krum asked while handing back the books he was holding.

"Ah, yea, yes, I mean I'm alright." Hermione took the books from Krum's hand and started to walk away but his words caused her to freeze.

"And the ball? Can I take that as a yes too?"

Frozen in her steps, Hermione was about to shake her head but then she remembered Loki, Ron and Harry.

So she nodded.

Krum smiled and Hermione rushed away from the place after giving her answer.

Meanwhile, under the tree, Daphne spoke, "So that's all you'll have to do and she'll say yes."

Loki looked at Daphne with a confused expression, "Are you sure all this is necessary?"

Daphne frowned, "Are you sure? How can't I be sure? This is how nobles court each other!"

Loki looked at the ridiculous set-up Daphne had suggested he create and became confused.

'Will Hermione really care if there are exactly twenty-two roses in the bouquet? And does she really need a ring? Isn't that for when things get serious? I mean…I know other girls might compare if their partners gave them something…but a ring? Really?'

'No! Elane is the only one that deserves a ring from me!'

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A/N : I had fun writing this chapter....a little too much fun, I think. We're reaching three hundred powerstones soon!!! Let's gooo!!!!!

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