Read at your own risk... =)
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Professor McGonagall had all of the Gryffindors (fourth-year and older) gathered in a large room. The girls sat on one side, while the boys sat on the other. Nobody knew what McGonagall was going to say, but knowing her, we suspected that it would have to do with being very well-mannered.
"The Yule Ball," said the professor, "has been a tradition of the-" She glanced at Filch, who was preparing a large phonograph, and making quite a bit of noise while doing so. "-Triwizard Tournament...since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity." She suddenly looked a bit more serious. "As representatives of the host schools, I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward. And I mean this literally, because the Yule Ball is, first and foremost, a dance."
As soon as I heard that word, I rolled my eyes; most of the boys did the same, if not more. Oh please, not more love stuff. McGonagall lifted her hands.
"Silence!" We instantly became dead quiet. "The house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you, in the course of a single evening, besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons!" I looked down at my lap, trying to hide my smile.
"Now, to dance is to let the body...breathe," she continued, her face becoming more relaxed. "Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight." Ron whispered something to Seamus and giggled. McGonagall looked right at him. "Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepares to prance. Mr. Weasley." Ron looked up with sheep eyes.
"Yes?"
"Would you join me, please?" Ron got up, his eyes wide. A few of the boys smiled. After leading him to the middle of the room, McGonagall turned to face Ron. "Now, place your right hand on my waist." Ron looked terrified.
"Where?"
"My waist." He hesitantly placed his hand on the professor's waist. He lowered it when one of the boys whistled lewdly, but McGonagall moved it back where it was. "And extend your arm." They were in a full dance pose. "Mr. Filch, if you please." Filch turned the phonograph on, and it started playing a slow waltz.
Ron and McGonagall slowly started moving to the music. "One two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three..." Fred and George looked like Christmas had arrived early. "Everybody come together. Boys, on your feet!" The girls all got up around me, so I slowly rose from my seat. I didn't walk more that a few inches from it, though. Most of the boys stayed where they were, except for one.
"Want to?" Neville had walked straight to me, and was holding his hand out. I looked at it, then up at him.
"I haven't the faintest idea how to."
"Neither do I." I smiled slightly and took his hand. He put his right hand on my waist, while I put my left hand up on his shoulder. McGonagall, who had finally released Ron, was walking around the room, forcing people into awkward pairs. When she saw me and Neville, she smiled.
"Very good, you two. But Mr. Longbottom, hold Miss Ravensdale a bit closer to you. It's easier that way." I gulped, blood instantly rushing to my face as Neville pulled me closer, so that our bodies were almost touching. "Everyone together! One, two, three. One, two, three..."
It was rather difficult at first, especially since Neville kept stepping on my toes. But the professor had everyone dancing for nearly an hour, so by the time it was over, everyone knew almost exactly what to do.
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During a free period that day, I was studying up on my Potions notes. I definitely didn't want to give Snape another excuse to get nasty. However, I was just reaching for a piece of parchment when I noticed a middle-sized owl sitting on the table. It stared at me with its beady eyes. After a few seconds, I realized that the owl was holding a fairly big package.
"Oh!" I took the package, and reached into my pocket to take out a few seeds. The owl ate them up gratefully and took off. I looked down at the package in my hands and smiled when I saw that it was from Mum and Dad. I ripped open the brown paper and opened the box. Inside, there was tissue paper. On top of it was a letter. The envelope had "Open This First" written on it, so I picked it up and opened it.
Darling Lacey,
Your mother and I hope that you're doing wonderfully at school.
Now, we have something to say to you. Not long after your sister died, we picked up her room and found a letter on top of a box. It was from Arabella, saying that if anything happened to her, we were not to open that box, but that you were to open it no earlier than the night of December 24th when you are fourteen years old. That's this year. So, we thought we'd go ahead and send it to you. Remember, do not open the box before Christmas Eve night.
Love,
Dad
I put down the letter and dug through the paper. I found a rectangular box wrapped in more paper. Curiosity nagged at me, but I shook it away. I'll just wait until nightfall and open it immediately then! Then, another thought came to my mind. Wait...the Yule Ball... My mind was conflicted. I was so anxious to know what was in that box, but... Oh, well. I can't dance anyways.
At that moment, I made the decision not to attend the Yule Ball.
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During the weeks that followed, all anyone could talk about was the Ball. Even Seamus and Dean were riled up about it. Also, people were rushing to find dates, running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Eventually, to get away from the madness, I put on my coat and walked down to the lake.
Even though the Black Lake's name is a bit creepy, it's actually a very relaxing place. As long as you don't go too far out, that is. The coastline was starting to get a bit frosty, as were the limbs of the surrounding trees. I sat down on the log that I had fallen asleep on several weeks earlier.
My thoughts drifted back to the box. I didn't really understand what it was for. Did Arabella have an important message for me? Or...was she trying to warn me about something?
"Hi, Lacey." I turned to see Neville walking down the hill towards me. I smiled.
"Hey." He sat on the log next to me. He was bundled up in his Gryffindor scarf and ear muffs, but his face was still pretty red from the cold.
"What're you doing down here?" I shrugged.
"Dunno. Just...thinking." He nodded.
"About what?"
"Just...life."
"Ah." He smiled. I noticed that the looked slightly troubled.
"Is everything alright, Neville?" He nodded.
"Oh, yeah, everything's fine. It's just...I actually wanted to ask you something." I turned towards him.
"Really? And what's that?" I became a little concerned. He looked awfully nervous. He looked down for a moment, then back at me.
"Umm...I was wondering...do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
My heart nearly stopped. A boy's actually...asking me to a ball? But Arabella's... I smiled and looked down for a moment.
"Neville, the fact that you asked me...I can't begin to say how much it means to me." He smiled. "But...I'm actually not going to the Ball." I looked back at him. He nodded, but judging by the look in his eyes, I could tell he was disappointed. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay." He smiled. "But...how come you're not going?" I thought about telling him, but I decided it was best to keep it to myself.
"I have my reasons."
"Okay." Sitting there in silence, we both stared at the water, which was rippling in the gentle breeze.
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The next day, I was hanging out in the common room during free period. All of the chatter about the Ball was driving me crazy. Sitting on the couch with Belle in my arms cleared my head greatly, though. The door suddenly opened, revealing Ron.
"Oh. Hey, Ron." He smiled.
"Hi, Lacey." He walked into the room and took off his scarf. "Getting cold." I nodded. He went to go upstairs, but stopped suddenly. Turning back around to face me, he spoke. "Lace."
"Hmm?" He struggled to find words.
"Wanna go to the Ball with me?" He then made some weird motion with his arms, as if imitating dancing. Slightly shocked from being asked to the Ball by two different people in two days, I shook my head.
"I'm not going to the Ball, but I appreciate your offer." His eyes widened.
"What? Are you mental?"
"Umm...I don't think I am."
"Everyone's going! Why wouldn't you wanna go?"
"I...have my reasons." He shrugged.
"Alright, suit yourself." He went up to the boy's dormitories. I giggled slightly. Poor bloke, he's looking for a last-second date.
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Apparently, both Ron and Harry were having trouble finding dates. This was surprising, considering the fact that everyone else already had them. Seamus had asked one of the Beauxbaton girls, Neville had asked Ginny, and Hermione had confided in me that she was going with Viktor Krum. She had told me not to mention it to Ron or Harry, though, which I didn't.
Anyways, I had bumped into Harry on my way to the loo later that night, and he just started babbling.
"Lacey, uhh...you...are you well? I mean, going..." I didn't know what he was saying.
"What?"
"Will you go to the Ball with me?" This really shocked me. Bloody hell! Harry Potter just asked me to the Ball? Nevertheless, I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, but no. I'm not going to the Ball."
"Why not?"
"I...can't tell you right now, but I will later. I promise." Slightly confused, Harry nodded.
"Okay. Great." He started walking away.
"Good luck," I called after him, smiling. He smiled back.
"Thanks." As I continued on my present course, I couldn't help but think about the Ball. Who would I go with if I was going? At the time, I was pretty sure I knew the answer to that question. Looking back now, I know who I would have gone with in a second.
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Ohhh, boy! Heads up for next chapter ~ SHE'S OPENING THE BOX!
