I did not want to go to sleep, I wanted to lie there in my bed. Tomorrow would be the worst day of my life, the Yule Ball. It seemed fun, and in all honestty I did want to attend. The issue at hand was I would stand there alone while everyone had the time of their lives. It was upsetting, but I would go with a date or not. I rolled over and checked the time, it was already here. Defeated I closed my eyes and decided to rest.

I woke up in the morning feeling absolutely beat. I saw the beautiful white dress that was laid on the footboard. Excited I sat up, earning myself a head rush, but when I picked up the dress it was worth it. It was white, knee length with just the right amount of lace overlay. I was in love with the dress. Ginny saw my face and beamed, "I bought it, with my own money. I know you don't want attend the ball, so I hoped this would change your perspective on it."

"Gin, how will I ever pay you back?" I asked still breathless.

She shook her head, "Consider it an early Christmas present. Now get dressed in your robes, we want to look absolutely radiant tonight." Ginny walked over to her trunk and picked up her brush and began pulling it slowly through her red hair. I jumped out of bed and stumbled over to my own trunk; my mom had sent me makeup from home to wear at the ball. It was going to be a good afternoon.

I washed my face and then arm in arm Ginny and I skipped down to breakfast while singing. I changed my view on the ball in less than an hour, and now nothing could take away my exuberant mood. Something caught the corner of my left eye, and miserable I turned my head around slowly; it was Draco. I whipped my head back around my heart beating quickly.

"Are you okay?" Ginny asked softly. I nodded unable to find the words. I sat facing the Ravenclaws for a reason this morning. I cursed myself silently and turned back around, he was staring blankly ahead. Pansy was trying to get his attention and it seemed as though his eyes met mine. It was a breif second, but it was enough to have the butterflies in my stomach awaken from their small nap.

"Are you done yet?" I asked her hoping to leave as soon as we possibly could.

"Almost. Nina, you've barely touched your food; eat some more." Ginny sounded like my mother. Reluctantly, I placed a piece of toast my plate and began nibbling at it mindlessly. It didn't taste spectacular; most likely due to the fact that nerves had overrun most of my system. The rest of my food I picked at and drank pumpkin juice which ran down my throat drily.

As we both walked towards the common room to get ready in a group, I heard the Beauxbaton girls whispering silently in pure excitment to each other and even the Durmstang boys seemed excited to go attend tonight's ball. I might have been the only idiot in the whole school who wasn't somewhat enthusiastic. Ginny tried to hold a conversation with me yet again.

"Nina? You aren't going with a date tonight are you?" The seriousness in her face prompted me to crack a smile.

"Of course not!" I looked at her with a taunting smile on my face. "Well at least you have a date, Mrs. Longbottom." I winked at her, and she groaned in response to my mockery.

"Nina you should know better than anyone else that I'd rather be Mrs. Potter." I saw something change in her face, "I wish I were that stupid veela Cho Chang, just so that he could see me in the same way." Ginny shook her head as if to shake the 'stupid' thought out of her mind.

"Gin," I began before she cut me off.

"It's nothing really. Just a foolish thought really," Ginny cracked a fake smile and took my wrist and led us back to the Gryffindor common room. Many cheerful voices greeted us at once and made it difficult for us to decipher their scattered comments. I nodded incoherently and sat down on the floor as Parvati began combing through my cinnamon locks; I cringed at the pain caused by my tangles.

I began tearing up and cursed myself silently for being so sensitive.

"It will come out really good," Parvati promised me as she began putting my hair in curlers. "My mum showed me how to do this over the summer. I really do miss her when I'm away, but tonight I'm going to let all my worries go and have fun. You should too," she said moving to the right side of my head.

"I don't think I'll be able to do that tonight," I murmured to her. "It's going to be distressing seeing someone with another girl. I don't even know if my feelings for them are that deep." I felt like hitting myself for letting my feelings spill to Parvati. She shifted to the left side to finish curling my hair, "Well then he doesn't see how beautiful you are. You deserve better than him, and if he doesn't end up with you then it's his loss," she smiled and admired her work.

"Thanks Parvati. I probably wouldn't end up looking good tonight if it weren't for you." I turned and hugged her, "Thanks." I ran up to the dorm and grabbed nail polish from my trunk.

"Does anyone want to paint there nails pink, red, black, or any other color?" Everyone looked up with grateful smiles, and I carefully navigated my way to the table to put the various nail polishes down. "I am open for business." I said jokingly as Romilda sat in front of me excitedly holding my sparkly green polish. I laughed at her as I began painting her nails.

"I heard what you were saying to Parvati. She's right you know," Romilda gave me a small smile and continued. "You're really nice and anyone would be lucky to have you as their date, or their girlfriend. Whoever this boy is he is definitely missing out." I looked up at her reassuring eyes and almost cried of happiness. Luckily the tears stayed in my eyes, and stopped me from severely embarrassing myself.

When everyone had been primped and ready to go to the ball, the girls without a date headed out in a group and the others stayed behind. I hugged Ginny tightly, told her to have a great time and find me later. The cold December air hit me and I didn't regret bringing my shawl to drape around my shoulders. It never seemed brilliant to have large open windows in the castle.

Finally we got to the Great Hall and everyone looked absolutely radiant. We were told to stand off to one side until the entrance of the champions. I stood to the side playing with the beading of my necklace. I looked up and saw Pansy holding Draco's arm and laughing on his shoulder as if sharing a private joke. I swallowed back a tear and watched Parvati enter on Harry's arm. Ginny would have loved coming with Harry, and again I looked up and stared at Draco.

His blond hair fell perfectly across his smooth forehead and he looked flawless in his dark suit. His blue tie complimented his grey eyes and he looked past me into the distance. Draco was built perfectly and I hated the way he stood next to Pansy, and I hated how she was holding him protectively, and I hated that I had to see them together. I caught a glance from Parvati and remembered what she had told me that morning. "I'm going to let my worries go and have fun tonight, "I swallowed back the lump in my throat.

Yes I think I will too.