Chapter 7 - A Surprise

The day for James and Athena had passed much as normal since they realized their feelings, and today at dinner they were sitting Ravenclaw table. A few weeks had passed since they had had their dreams and discovered their feelings.

There was something different about today though, this was proved when just before everyone started eating when McGonnagal stood up, "Attention for a moment", she called out.

Obediently the Hall quieted, all had heard from their parents how strict McGonnagal was in their school years and always behaved around her.

She smiled for a second, "Thank you. Now, I have an announcement to make. For Christmas we are going to have a ball this year the day before break starts!"

Cheers broke throughout the Hall and McGonnagal silenced them with a stern look, "Only for third years and up, though, unless a younger year is the date of an older student."

Sounds of disappointment came out of most of the kids first and second years until another look quieted cleared her throat, "Now that announcement is finished, you may now eat!"

The Hal broke out into whispers as they went back to their food. James and Athena were studiously not looking at each other. Finally near dinner's end James cleared his throat nervously, and Athena looked at him hopefully, "Something wrong, James?"

James shook his head, "Nothing wrong but, ah.", he swallowed hard, this might be the push they needed to go.

Athena unconsciously leaned forward eagerly, "Yes?", she said, hope clear in her voice.

He swallowed again and said, "I-wanted-to-know-if-you-wanted-to-go-to-the-ball-with-me", he said in a rush so it sounded like one big word.

Athena's brown eyes lit up, "I would love to.", she said earnestly.

James grinned, "Really?"

She smiled back, "Really", she confirmed.

They both grinned as James hugged her.

After Mcgonngal's announcement Albus made a beeline for Hufflepuff table, not eating dinner. He'd go to the kitchens and ask the elves for something later, "Um, can I talk to you for a moment Letitia?", he asked, his cheeks faintly red as the Hufflepuff girls around his friend cooed at him.

Letitia was also blushing, "Ah, sure, give me a second.", she sent a glare to the giggling girls around her and followed Albus out of the room.

They exited the hall together, Albus leading her to the kitchens, and tickling the pear before steeping in.

"Can I have some hot chocolate, please?", Albus asked one of the elves, thanking them when they happily agreed.

Albus cleared his throat as Letitia looked at him expectantly, "What was it you needed, Al?", she prompted, biting her lip softly, a nervous habit of her's.

Albus touched her lip lightly, coaxing her to let go of it with her teeth, "You'll hurt yourself like that one day", he said softly, before taking a deep breath, "What I wanted to say to you, was to ask you.", he paused again, taking another deep breath.

"Yes?", Letitia asked him, hoping it was what she was hoping he was going to ask.

Albus took a sip of his cocoa when the elves brought it to him, "I wanted to ask you.. if you and I.. could go to the Christmas Ball together?"

Letitia let out a happy shriek, pushing his cocoa away so she could throw herself at him, "I would love to", she said happily, now in his arms.

Both were smiling now, happy. They didn't notice when one of the elves poofed out to tell Luna about them, as she had figured that they would be together for years, even before Harry and Hermione started arguing about James and Athena, She was happy to know she was right.

When the two separated to go to bed that night, they both fell asleep with the same smile of their faces.

Lily, Julian, and Stelella sat at their table, eating and ignoring the excited whispers about the ball, they didn't care about it, it wasn't their kind of thing. Dancing wasn't something they were interested in. The night of the ball, they would probably be in their common room, doing the homework that was assigned for over break.

Before they went off to sleep, two boys had asked Lily to the ball, three had asked Stelella, and two girls had asked Julian. The three had said no as nicely as possible to each one. They quickly finished some homework and then went to bed.