Disclamier: I do not own Harry Potter in any shape or form Harry Potter is owned by J.K Rowling.

AN: This is my first Harry Potter fanfiction so please be gentle.

Chapter 1

The Shy Gryffindor & The Studious Hufflepuff

"You've been staring at her for the last 15 minutes it stopped being cute after 5 and is now bordering on creepy." Spoke a blue eyed brown haired ponytailed youth wearing a robe with yellow trim who sat reading a book at one of the many tables in the Hogwarts library.

The slightly chubby short brown haired 14 year old dressed in black robes with red trim turned away from staring at the dirty blonde haired girl who was reading a magazine upside down table across from them. "What else should I do Xavier?"

Xavier closed his book and light hit it against his own head, "For Merlin's sake Neville just go talk to her and invite her to the Yule Ball."

"I'll go talk to her if you invite a girl as well." Neville said trying to by himself time before talking to his crush.

Xavier rolled his eyes, "You know I might not even go to this dance, I may just stay in my dorm and read all night."

"You spend too much time reading." Neville said

"And you spend too much time in the green houses." Xavier replied in a flat tone and went back to reading his book. The two had had this discussion countless times in there four year friendship. He looked back up at his friend who was shaking from nerves. Xavier sighed, "Fine if you ask out Luna I will find myself a date for the dance. Now go fulfill your end of the deal." He gestured to where the third year Luna Lovegood sat reading her magazine. Neville turned around and simply stood paralyzed with fear. Xavier gave another sigh and gave him a kick in the butt to get him moving. Neville glared at his friend as he rubbed his behind, but Xavier again gestured to Luna and Neville's glared turned to a nervous smile as he slowly made his way over to her table. Xavier shook his head as he went back to reading only to be interrupted by a female voice.

"That was a nice thing you did for your friend." The voice spoke.

Xavier looked toward his right and saw a witch of Indian descent stood before him in a Ravenclaw robe. She had black hair and hazel eyes and was in his year.

"He is a good guy he just a boost of confidence every now and then. Now who am I talking to Miss-?" He let the question hang in the air.

"Padma Patil" The girl said extending her hand.

"Xavier Chance" He replied shaking the extended hand with a smile.

Padma raised an eyebrow that smile meant something more than a simply greeting and then a look of realization passed over her face.

"You knew who I was already didn't you?" She asked

Xavier nodded, "I have watched you during meals, and I have seen how close you are with Miss Lovegood, compared to the other Ravenclaws."

"You have watched me during meals?" Padma asked her voice half worry and half something else.

Xavier smiled and looked at her, "Don't flatter yourself to highly miss I watch quite a few people during dinner. This includes but is not limited to Ron Weasley to see if he will ever choke on any of the food he shoves in his mouth, Draco Malfoy to see if his attitude truly will make him fly high above the clouds because he thinks he is above everyone, Hermione Granger to see if she ever does stop talking, and finally Snape to see all if all that oil in his hair will drip into his food. In my four years at Hogwarts none of these things have happened, but I don't give up hope that they might." He finished.

Padma was trying very hard to hide her giggles behind her hand but she was failing. She took a deep breath then spoke, "That wasn't very nice."

Xavier rolled his eyes, "If you want tact go speak to a Slytherin, if you want the truth speak to a Puff." He then pulled a chair out and moved it next to him. Padma took the seat and the two sat in silence. Xavier turned a page in his book, "How is he doing?"

Padma looked over too where Neville and Luna where, they were both sitting down while Luna was explaining something about her creatures.

"There doing just fine." Padma said as Xavier nodded and flipped another page of his book. "What are you reading?"

"The complete works of Sherlock Holmes." He said

Padma eyes widened, "You read Holmes?" She asked

"Yes, my mother's side of the family has owned a bookstore for close to a hundred years. How do you know about Sherlock Holmes I thought your family was Pure-blood?" Xavier asked

"Me and my sister are actually half-bloods my father is a full-fledged wizard and my mother is muggle. So we have gone into the muggle world, and when we do I look for books and my sister well she looks for dresses and make-up. What about you?"

"My mother is a witch, and my father well I guess half-blood would be the best way to describe him." Xavier said

Padma raised an eyebrow when he spoke about his father but let it drop for now, "So what other books do you like to read?"

"The classics, Tarzan, Holmes, some horror, and some science fiction, what are about you?"

"Shakespeare, Poetry, and the trashy romance novel every now and then." Padma said

Xavier nodded and after a few moments turned toward Padma, "I know we literally just met less than half hour ago but I was wondering if you would do me the honor of attending the Yule Ball with me."

A smirk appeared on Padma's face, "While I guess I could do worse."

Xavier returned the smirk, "I assume that is a yes?" Padma nodded. Xavier closed his book and started walk away.

"Where are you going?" Padma asked

"I have to owl my mother about dress robes, because I didn't believe I would go to the ball I didn't bring them. But now that I have a beautiful witch on my arm I feel like I will need better robes then I would have brought anyway. Do you know what color dress you will wear?"

"It is a very light blue green color so aqua would be the best way to describe it." Padma said

Xavier nodded, "Are you always in the library around this time?"

"Yes, Why?" Padma asked

"Well I would like to get to know my date better if that is fine with you." Padma nodded, "Does tomorrow after dinner sound like a good time to get to know each other? We could walk the halls if would like or just stay in the library." Again Padma nodded. Xavier glanced back at their friends Neville and Luna, "Will you make sure that our friends get back to their common rooms safely?" For a third time Padma nodded. Xavier then gained a smirk as he lightly grabbed her left hand and planted a gentle kiss on it. "Until tomorrow then my dear" He said as he headed out the door, leaving a blushing Padma behind him.

This will be a short 5 to 10 chapter story that takes place during fourth year and will end the evening of the Yule Ball. If you have any comments please review or PM me, a reminder that this is my first Harry Potter story so be gentle. As always thanks for the support.