AN: Just an idea I had while unintentionally staying up all night. I think it came out nicely for something written at 5 in the morning.

"You can't check out five books at once, ." Madam Prince said

"Why not?" I asked

Madam Prince sighed. I was a regular in the library and often helped out.

"Why don't you take four and read one now?" she suggested.

"Ok." I smiled. "Thanks!"

I decided on reading Potions Through the Ages. I sat at a table, slipped the other four books into my bag, and began to read. My eyes darted up as I heard the door open and close.

"Mable Ironhill!" my best friend Lily Evans whisper yelled, walking over to me. "Why aren't you getting ready for the Yule Ball?"

"Do I have to go?"

"Yes." she said, grabbing my forearm and dragging me along, book still in my hand.

Glancing back at Madam Prince I saw her mouth, "Just take it."

Smiling gratefully, I let Lily drag me out the door.

"Now go!" she said, shoving me in the direction of the Ravenclaw common room.

Groaning, I trudged off to get ready.

I met up with Lily and her boyfriend, James Potter, between common rooms.

"I look awful." I groaned.

"No, you look beautiful!" Lily said reassuringly. "Why black though?" she asked as we began to walk, observing my black, knee-length dress.

Shrugging, I subconsciously reached up to pull at my curly red hair, which I hadn't worn down in ages because I usually kept it in a bun.

Lily yanked my arm down. "I told you to stop doing that!" she said as we entered the Great Hall.

The Yule Ball is a dreadful thing, especially without a date. Sadly, I couldn't find the courage to ask Remus Lupin. Luckily Lily was kind enough to talk to me while James and his friend Sirius Black went off to prank some Hufflepuffs.

"So, how are things going with James?" I asked.

"Lovely!" Lily exclaimed. "I think I wanna marry him!"

Before I could reply, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I saw Severus Snape.

"Uh…hi!" I said.

"Hi May." he said. "Would you…like to dance with me?"

Lily smirked. "Why would she?"

I stepped on her foot and smiled at him. "Sure, I'd love to!"

As we walked to the dance floor, I had a thought: 'Mable, you hate dancing!'

"I warn you, I'm not much of a dancer." I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"It's easy to dance with someone else who doesn't dance." he replied, putting his hands on my waist.

As we swayed lightly, I realized he was right. He spun me around and I laughed, hugging him. He reluctantly hugged me back-clearly it was the first time he'd been hugged in a while.

"Someone help! We need to get May to Saint Mungo's!" called a voice I recognized as Sirius's.

"Excuse me?" I asked, turning to him and James.

"You're dancing with Snivellus!" he cried. "You're obviously not in your right mind!"

"I am too!" I countered.

Although Sirius apparently found me not enjoyable to torture, so he turned to Severus.

"You're lucky May's nice, because no other girl would've danced with you." he teased.

Stepping forward, I growled "Back off."

"Why should he?" James asked.

"You know what I have on you two, Lupin, and Pettigrew!"

Their eyes widened. "You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would. Where's Dippet?" I asked, looking at the staff table.

"Fine, we'll stop." James said.

Smirking, I watched them walk away defeated and turned to Severus.

"You just stood up for me. Why?" he asked.

"Because you're my friend. Thanks for the dance."

I kissed him on the cheek and walked away, returning to talking with Lily.