The Unexpected Task (GF)

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The Unexpected Task is the twenty-second chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Transfiguration

Minerva McGonagall berates Harry and Ron for not paying attention to her. The class is already over—they have succeeded in turning guinea-fowl into guinea-pigs (Neville's still has feathers) and copied down their homework ("Describe, with examples, the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches.")—, and, while waiting for the bell to ring, the two boys started a sword fight with two of Fred and George's fake wands (which transformed into a tin parrot and a rubber haddock).

McGonagall announces that the Yule Ball, a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament, is approaching. It will be open to fourth-years and above, but younger students may be invited. Lavender and Parvati have a hard time preventing themselves from giggling. Dress robes are mandatory. The ball starts at eight o'clock on December 25, and finishes at midnight.

"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to — er — let our hair down," she says in a disapproving tone. "But that does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

The bell rings. As students start to leave, Minerva calls Harry to her desk, and informs him that the Triwizard champions and their dance partners traditionally open the ball. She therefore orders him to find a partner.

Yuletide

Never before has Harry seen so many people stay at Hogwarts for Christmas: everyone from the fourth year up seems to be staying, and all the girls are obsessing about the upcoming dance.

"Why do they have to move in packs? How're you supposed to get one on their own to ask them?" Harry despairs. He would, of course, like to invite Cho Chang, but she is a year older than him and very popular; he is apprehensive.

Ron reassures him that his champion status ensures that girls will queue up to go with Harry, which proves to be right: a third-year Hufflepuff with curly black hair asks him out, but he refuses out of sheer astonishment. Ron, Dean and Seamus taunt him during the entire History of Magic lesson after that. The following day, a second-year and a good-looking fifth-year (who happens to be a foot taller than Harry, and rather menacing) also ask Harry out.