The young wizard always thought of himself as confident…although most who knew him would call him cocky instead. All his confidence, however, fled the moment his eyes met hers. The Great Hall was crowded with students, professors, and shining decorations, but he could spot her anywhere. For him, that vibrant red hair shone more brightly than any holiday tinsel or fairy light.
When his mates caught him staring in her direction once more, they elbowed him sharply.
"Why don't you just go over there already so she can turn you down…again?"
With an arrogant shrug of his shoulders, he walked away from their laughter and started across the floor. It was packed with couples and eagle-eyed chaperones, many of whom had not been quite convinced that Hogwarts was ready for another Yule Ball. Therefore, the young man had to make his way slowly to the girl in question.
When he finally reached her, he noted with some relief that the giggling group of Gryffindors who had surrounded her had left them in peace. Well, it was a relative peace. He could now see two sets of students…his mates and hers…watching with a mixture of amusement and apprehension.
Taking a deep breath, he tried his best to ignore them all and focus on the beautiful girl who now looked at him with a hint of annoyance on her face. He saw that the snowflakes that had been falling from the enchanted ceiling were now sparkling in her hair. That image swept away all the suave words and persuasive arguments he'd silently practiced during his trip across the room.
Instead, he simply held out his hand to her and whispered, "Please?"
With that single, hesitant question, all doubts left Lily's mind. She nodded and placed her hand in his, marveling at how well it fit, before he swept her onto the floor.
It took mere second for the murmurs to begin. The impossible…or perhaps just the improbable…had finally happened.
Lily Potter had actually accepted Scorpius Malfoy's offer to dance.
Author's note: Here begins my take on the "12 Fics of Christmas." They're all post-war, and a few are even post-epilogue. I have been reading lots of these, so I hope I didn't inadvertently steal anyone else's ideas! Also, the only things I own here are the mistakes, so please don't sue me. Enjoy?