The sounds of flapping wings could be heard overhead, causing Neona to instinctively cover her food with her hands and waited for the onslaught of owl post to end before she would even consider eating. She smiled when she felt Romulus land on her shoulder and drop her copy of the Daily Prophet on her hand which soon rolled of to the side where she would leave it until she'd finished eating.

As the swarm of owls ceased in their flying and exited the hall, Neona picked up her spoon and shoveled some cereal into her mouth. As she chewed, the chattering of the students in the Hall began to drop steadily until it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop in the eerie silence.

"Why are they all staring at us?" Fred and George asked in a quiet mutter.

Glancing around, Neona frowned when she saw that the students eyes had fallen upon where they sat at their table.

"Absolutely no idea." Hermione spoke cautiously, picking at her slice of toast.

Harry frowned, "Is it me?" he pressed quietly.

Whispers began to fill the hall and Neona suddenly noticed that the stares were falling more in her direction that in Harry's, even students from her own House were gaping and gawking at her. Becoming extremely self-conscious, she took hold of the newspaper beside her and erratically unfolded it.

As her eyes quickly scanned the front page, she quickly found the source of all the stares she'd been receiving that morning. It was herself on the front cover, her eyes glittering gold while her lips was curled, revealing her set of pearly white canines. Flicking to her destined page, her eyes widened and her face drained of what little colour it had as she read. Unconsciously, she began rising from her seat as she reached the end of the article. "WHAT?!" she exclaimed, not caring if everybody heard her.

"Ne..." She glanced up as Cedric quickly jogged over to her, his own copy of the Daily Prophet in his hand as he frowned at her, pointing to the picture of himself and her laughing, then to the one where she hugging Eden and finally the one where she was talking with Viktor and the final one was of her and Snape as he walked her to the Champion's Pavilion. "What is she playing at?"

Neona let out a shaky breath, "I don't know..." she whispered, uncertain of what to say for once in her life. Was the woman really punishing her and making her a laughing stock simply because she refused to give her an interview? "I'm sorry that she involved you in this Cedric, I- "

"I'm not." he cut her off with a small smile, his eyes flickering to the article as he re-read the part about him. "Half of what she's said about me is true, I am hypnotized by your-"

"Don't say it, you can't say it." Neona backed away from him, shaking her sternly, willing him to stop. "Cedric, I forbid you to agree to anything she's said, she's a lying..." she trailed off when he grabbed her hand, leaving her speechless.

"Just calm down... it's not that bad."

Neona scoffed, "Not that bad, have you read it properly?!" she growled, glowering at him as he continued to smile at her. "She's slaughtering me because I refused to give her an interview! An interview!" With that, she pulled her arm away from him and charged directly towards the staff table where McGonagall and Snape were sat watching silently.

However, Cedric persisted. "Why are you so afraid, Neona?" he called, making her stop and turn to look at him. "It's just empty and twisted words that mean nothing... she does know that belligerent and truculent are the same thing, right?"

"They mean something to me."

Cedric tilted his head at her. "Neona don't give her the satisfaction, you know you're nothing like what she's said in this." he ruffled the Daily Prophet in his grasp. "I know you're nothing like what she's saying you are, and I'm pretty sure Krum and Eden do as well." he explained calmly, wanting her to stop and listen to him before she charged off like the true Gryffindor she was.

Turning away again, Neona finally approached the staff table and placed the Daily Prophet in front of her Head of House. "Professor, I think you should read this..." she instructed her as she picked up the newspaper and began to read.

Beside her, Snape looked over her should and began to read but McGonagall turned the paper away from him in annoyance, willing him to find his own. "Diggory, give it here." Snape snarled, wrenching Cedric's form his grasp. Smirking, he began to read.

STRUMPET, SIREN, SEDUCTRESS - OH MY!

Reported by Rita Skeeter

Seduction is, as well as know, an art only a woman can perfect but throwing all virtue aside, newly-appointed Head Girl, Quidditch Captain and Tri-Wizard champion Neona Lupin is proving herself to be the ultimate temptress... perhaps it's part of her heritage, being part Veela has envisaged her with the undesirable need for attention which has enticed not only one but three incapacitated men who are too weedy to see through her ploy.

Our first patsy is none other than the famous Eden Baines, a former keeper for the English National Quidditch Team along with the Wimbourne Wasps, Puddlemere United and Chudley Cannons, also a former employee of the Ministry of Magic, his specialty as an ex-Auror was to root out dark magic from its source, however, since his dismissal from the department, he's allowed himself to be the first fatality of the Siren's call. But it seems even this stoic stranger isn't enough to satisfy her needs...

There's something in the water for famous Quidditch players as our second stooge is none other than the Bulgarian "Bon-Bon" Viktor Krum, whom several sources report is besotted with Lupin and her hypnotic ways, clueless of her true intentions as the local Man-Eater at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as she aims to make him bow to her every whim despite the consequences.

This fame-seeking harpy is sticking to what she knows best as our third lackey in this tale is also a gifted Quidditch Player; Hufflepuff Quidditch Team Captain, Cedric Diggory, whom has been blinded with her venomous affections, hypnotized by her beauty and has so been trapped in her web of manipulation much like the two before him, unaware of what Miss Lupin has in store for him.

Sources inside the castle describe this vamp as being an incredibly belligerent and truculent student, who is as concerned with being at the forefront of her classes as she is with luring unsuspecting wizards into her evil clutches. Fellow classmates have witnessed her desperate attempts to catch the attentions of both Mister Diggory and Mister Krum who have both succumbed to her sorcery.

When approached about this scandal, the illustrious Miss Lupin responded in such a hostile manner that I just simply couldn't write in this article the words that left her filthy mouth which I can only assume is a horrible habit she picked up from her late Veela mother, Daphne Baudin and that horrible aggression of hers must be a trait of her father, a reowned werewolf.

A scandal such as this, may leave some readers questioning validity of Miss Lupin appointment of Head Girl and Quidditch Captain or who else she had to sink her claws into to have her way... maybe a certain Potion's Master?

Once he'd finished reading the article, Snape's eyes shot to the Gryffindor's who refused to meet his gaze and instead chose to held his colleagues instead. Skeeter thought that Lupin was using him to get what she wanted? It was true that he regarded her will a good favour, that they had a good rapport but that was all.

Looking to the side, he saw that even Minerva didn't know what to say, open and closing her mouth like a fish out of water. "Miss Lupin..." McGonagall was at a loss for words truly, Strumpet, Siren, Seductress... what sort of headline is that?

Neona, however, didn't care that she was speechless... she had her reputation to uphold and while Rita Skeeter was around it was threatened. "What she's insinuating is that I'm..." she paused when she finally gave in to Snape's unwavering stare, her eyes widened as she realised she'd roped him into the scandal as well. "... I'm having relations with all of them but I can assure you I'm not. My-"

From behind her, Cedric interrupted to her irritation, stepping forwards with his head held high. "Professor..."

"Cedric, shut up." Neona scolded him as he smiled at her slightly but stepped back and held his tongue. "My relationships with Eden, Krum and Cedric are strictly platonic as far as I'm aware... I know Cedric wants to take our friendship further but I'm afraid I can't co that because as you know I'm prone to outbursts that often end badly." she rambled, noticing that most of the teaching staff were watching her closely. "However, I don't believe Rita Skeet should be at liberty to spread rumours that are most certainly untrue simply because I refuse to give her an interview."

Still struggled to find words, McGonagall adjusted herself in her chair so that she was leaning backwards but she still said nothing.

Snape let out a sigh, regarding the article once more before placing it down over his empty plate, clasping his hands together as he willed himself to speak. "Then perhaps that's something you should consider, Miss Lupin- "

Her head snapped towards him, her anger radiating off her as she glared at the Potion's Master. "I will not - to give her more ammunition to throw my way? I don't think so." she concluded harshly, crossing her arms over her chest, signalling to him that he'd offended her for suggesting such a thing. "She's already attacked Harry and Hermione, as well as Hagrid and Dumbledore in one article, no thank you, I'm wonderful being left alone."

Snape smirked as she ranted, simply watching in amusement as she got far too carried away over something as petty as an article made to only infuriate her, she'd let a pompous woman get the better of her.

After a moment of thoughtful silence, Neona spoke again, her tone still harsh from the affects of the article. "Professor, if she does write anything more on me or approach me for that matter or upset the others in anyway, I might personally removed those three bloody golden teeth of hers..."

Suddenly after almost choking on her tea, McGonagall finally found her voice, sending her forwards in her chair with a finger pointed at the girl in front of her. "You will do no such thing!" she warned hazardously, the finger shaking from the force of her threat that made Neona's face contort in discomfort.

"... I know the perfect spell." she muttered bitterly, glaring at the ground.

McGonagall lent forwards. "What was that?"

"Nothing, don't worry..." Neona said despite how much she wished she could have been given permission though the idea of hexing the woman seemed far too tempting to ignore. "Can't you talk to Professor Dumbledore about it, or at least persuade him to keep her off the grounds to give everyone piece of mind?" she wondered, knowing the chances were slim which the want of coverage when concerning the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

McGonagall nodded and said nothing more, passing the Daily Prophet back to her.

"Sir, could I have my copy of the Daily Prophet back?" Cedric gestured to the newspaper sat before Snape, who also glancing down but made no movement to return it to him, raising an eyebrow in his direction which told him his answer.

"No."

Turning away, Neona stormed off from the table with Cedric bouncing after her, calling out her name to draw her attention to him. "Neona, you need to calm down... she's not worth it, honestly."

Taking her bag into her hands, Neona rolled her eyes and shot him a lot of despair. "She had no right bring up my parents, saying they're to blame for all of this..." she told him while Cedric nodded in agreement, picking up his own bag and trailing after her as she fled the Hall.

Cedric sighed, catching up with her, trying to catch his breath. "What are you going to do?" He glanced at her to a deep frown pulling at her face as the inner conflict waged within her, she shrugged hopelessly. His eyes met hers, her gaze dropping to his chest where it stayed making him feel self-conscious, he smoothed out his jumper with a frown. "What?"

"Your tie..." She pointed to his crooked piece of clothing that stuck out of his jumper and suddenly without thinking, she took it into her hands and began straightening it with her hands before tucking it under his jumper. "I suppose murder would suffice..." Neona replied to his question absently, ignoring the flushed colours of his cheeks.

Cedric laughed while a wide smile broke out onto his face.

The quiet mutterings didn't settle and neither did the usual roar of student chatter return. Narrowing his eyes as he critically glanced out at the four tables, he set down his tea when he saw multiple heads turned in the direction of the entrance to the Great Hall. Sighing deeply, Snape watched in disappointment as Lupin stood fixing Diggory's tie, which would no doubt fuel life into Skeeter's rumours.

McGonagall, having caught the same sight as her colleague, leaned over the arm of her chair just so he mouth rested near enough to his ear. "I'll bet you three galleons that she and Diggory will be seeing each other by the end of the year..." she murmured just low enough for him to hear, his lips curling when the smirk pulled at his lips.

"You're on."


To say she was absolutely ecstatic about their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson would have been an utter lie; Neona couldn't be more terrified by the thought however, Cedric, on the other hand seemed happy enough with the idea of Alastor Moody teaching them after the scene he pulled in the Transfiguration Courtyard.

"Don't look so worried," He pulled his copy of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection along with The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts and held them firmly in his hands as the neared the classroom.

Neona sighed, "He'll only make you put them away, we're the only class he hasn't enlightened with the Three Unforgivable Curses yet, so I wouldn't be too surprised if we spend the entire lesson engaged in conversation."

As the entered the room, Moody's voice met their ears. "You can put those away, Diggory, you won't be needing them today... just your wand will do." he snarled from behind his desk where he sat, watching them both closely. "Though I should congratulate the both of you on you outstanding efforts in yesterday's task, brilliant the pair of you, well done."

Shoveling the books back into his bag, Cedric muttered a reply of thanks whereas Neona merely stared at the man as she took her seat to wait for Angelina to join her but unexpectedly, Cedric sat down beside her. "What are you doing?" she whispered, looking at him confusedly. "Do you want to put life into the rumours?"

Placing his wand on the desk, he leaned towards her ear. "I don't care about rumours, Neona."

She gritted her teeth when she could see him grinning out of the corner of her eye, if it had been on the other foot, he would care... but still, she said nothing and merely took out her own wand which attracted Cedric's unwanted attention again. "So, what's your made of out?" He turned his over in his hand and sighed. "Mine's twelve and a quarter inches with wood being ash and the core being unicorn hair... and it's pleasantly springy."

Looking at her own wand, Neona sighed and gave in, knowing Cedric would continue to pester her until she answered. "Hornbeam, thirteen and a quarter inches. The core is Thestral Hair and Hippogriff feather, it's inflexible and stubborn just like me."

Cedric smiled at her. "Yes, I would agree, you're bloody stubborn."

Once the other students had filed into the room, Moody finally spoke again. "Right then," he said, when the last person had scurried into the room, "You lot know how to tackle Dark creatures... but you're very behind on dealing with curses," said Moody with a growl, his magical eye floating around the room. "So I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark Magic and then I'm gone, forever!"

His shout made everyone jump in shock, causing Neona and Cedric to glance at each other.

"So, curses - they come in many strengths and forms." Moody begun darkly, sighing as he turned to face the black board. "According to the Ministry of Magic, I'm supposed to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. But lucky for you lot, you get to witness illegal Dark Curses because you're all of age - the sooner you know what you're up against, the better... how else are you supposed to defend yourself if you haven't been taught how to?" he paused as Cedric lent towards Neona. "When a wizard decides to use an illegal curse on you, he isn't going to tell you first, he's not going to be all nice and polite. You need to be prepared..."

"So, have you heard... there's this ball and- " Cedric never got to finish because he soon being reigned in Moody who sent a furious growl rippling into the air from where he stood at his desk.

"You need to stop trying to woo Miss Lupin, Mister Diggory, when I'm talking."

Cedric looked around the room to see everyone staring at him, scratching his head nervously he chuckled. "Sorry, sir." he apologised, though his smile didn't falter.

"Do any of you know..." he spoke loudly, his eyes scanning the room. "which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?" Some people raised their hand, including myself and Cedric, however, his eyes soon found mine and he smiled grotesquely. "Miss Lupin, name one if you would."

Neona took in a deep breath, "The Imperius Curse, able to place the victim completely under the caster's control, however, a person with exceptional strength of will is believed to be able to resist."

"Yes!" he roared. "The Imperius Curse, the Ministry had quite a bit of grief at one time. Horrible but had to face, but I'm going to show you." On the desk sat a glass jaw where three large black spiders were scuttling around inside. With a hand, Moody reached into the jar and caught one, holding it in his palm for everyone to see. Pointing his wand at it, he shouted, "Imperio!"

Almost immediately, the spider leapt from Moody's hand and made the spider land on the desk, beginning to cartwheel in circles and a few flips. "Total control of the body and mind," he said as the spider began to roll around on the desk. "I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, make it crawl down one of your throats..."

Moody picked up the rolling spider and threw it back into the jar. "Nasty little curse that one, and you wouldn't even know - total control of the body and mind, like a puppet... years back, there were quite a lot of witches and wizards being controlled by the Imperius Curse... took the Ministry some times to sort out those who were being forced to act and those who were acting of their own free will."

Still, no one made a sound.

"Like Miss Lupin said, the Imperius Curse can be fought but it takes exceptional strength of will and not everyone's got it which means CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he roared once again, and everyone jumped. "Now, Miss Lupin... name another."

Briefly glancing at Fred, who was on right, Neona closed her eyes and turned back to face Moody who was glowering above her. "The Cruciatus Curse." she begun with her hands clasping her wand tighter and tighter. "When cast successfully the curse inflicts excruciating pain on the victim, though the curse doesn't physically harm the victim, which mans it's possible that it only stimulates the pain receptors within the body."

Moody was looking at Neona very intently, a twisted smile breaking onto his face. "You know a lot, don't you?" When Neona reluctantly nodded, he turned back to reach into the jar for the next spider and placed it on the desktop where it refused to move, seeming far too scared to. "Bit small this one, engorgio!" The Spider swelled and grew in size. "The Cruciatus Curse."

Moody raised his wand at the spider before howling, "Crucio!" Immediately, the spider's legs bent and it was soon rolling over and twitching horribly in pain, writhing even. No sound came from it though, when it started to jerk more violently only did Moody then raise his wand. The spider's legs relaxed but it didn't stop twitching.

"Reducio," Moody muttered, and the spider shrank back to its proper size before he threw it back into the jaw. "That one was very popular back in the day, nasty little curse that one. All about pain, and hard to block, too. Miss Lupin, can you recite the finally curse from your encyclopedia of knowledge, and for those of you who are not familiar with the Muggle term encyclopedia, it is- "

"An encyclopedia is a book or a set of book giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and is usually arranged alphabetically." Neona managed to stop herself when she saw the look Moody was giving her, but despite the look, he nodded for her to continue. "The Killing Curse, which on contact with the victim, results in instant death with no secondary effects. There is no counter curse of blocking spell, although it may be dodged or blocked by a solid object."

"Very good, now... can you give me the incantation for the curse?" he questioned for no reason at all, his face full of amusement. "Come on, I think you know it, you seem to know everything else."

"Avada Kedavra."

Moody smirked in satisfaction. "Well done, Miss Lupin, fifteen points to Gryffindor." Moody awarded. "The last and the worst of them all. Avada Kedavra, the Killing Curse." Moody then went to reach for the third and finally spider which was scuttling erratically at the bottom the jar, as if trying to evade his fingers but he managed to trap it and place it on the desktop.

Once free, it began to scuttle frantically across the wooden surface until Moody raised his wand and roared once again. "Avada Kedavra!" As soon as he had said it, there was a flash of blinding green light and a rushing sound and instantaneously the spider rolled over onto its back, unmistakably dead.

"By the looks of your faces, you lot aren't fans of that one..." he trailed off calmly, sweeping the spider off the desktop. "Not pleasant, and as Miss Lupin also said, yes, there is no countercurse, no blocking it and only one person is know to have survived it."

"But the thing is, if there's no countercurse, why am I showing it to you? Because you need to know, you've got to be prepared for the worst. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he roared, banging his fists upon the desktop, causing many students to jump. "Now, those curses are know as the Unforgivable Curses, and the use of any one of them will earn you a life sentence in Azkaban... this is why I've got to teach you to fight! Because that's what you're up again! You need to be prepared!" and with final intake of breath, he let out a low growl. "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

Thankfully, they spent the rest of the lesson taking notes on the curses. No one spoke until the bell rang, however, when Moody had dismissed them and they were free from the classroom, the class soon broke into chatter of what had just happened, Cedric among them.

"Okay, you were right... he's bloody awful."


"Stupid Weasleys..." she muttered to herself under her breath as she stalked through the corridors. After Moody's lesson, her day seemed to have gone down hill from that point. Fred and George had set off some of their Wildfire Whiz-bangs, there were impossible to get rid of and then they gave her a Screaming Yo-yo for trial (which wasn't working correctly as she could hear it screeching away in her bag), then the staircases decided to move right when she needed the to stay put to get to Professor Flitwick's lesson on the third floor, classroom 2E.

And when she had finally made it to the third floor, Peeves decided it was an opportune moment to attack, throwing her bag into the air and sending its contents flying across the floor. "Peeves!" she roared in fury, running her hand over her face as she merely watched the poltergeist snatch her bag away from her grasp. The final object in her bag then caught his attention and he grinned madly. "What's this?"

Looking up, she saw as her bag fell but her eyes widened when she saw him ogling the golden egg from the first task. Her heart stopped. She would have a hard time getting that back and she'd yet to figure it out. Watching him carefully, she knew she had to make him open it for him to drop it. "Peeves, please don't open it... I would like it left in one piece until I'm done with it, you may have it." she pleaded, hoping it would probe him to unlock it.

Flashing her a menacing grin, Peeves did exactly that. The sound that burst free from the confines of the egg shell was the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing that filled the entire corridor, imitating a banshee and enough to make Peeves drop the egg in fright. "Bloody Merpeople and their screeching."

Seeing it fall through the air, Neona ran towards it, prepared to catch it at all costs. Dropping to the floor, she dove for the egg before it hit the ground, catching it safely in her arms as she met the floor with a groan. With a deep breath, she looked back at the poltergeist. "I did tell you not to open it." she taunted as he scowled at her but then her face fell in realisation. "Wait... did you say Merpeople?"

Peeves nodded at her.

"Of course! How had I not seen it?" Looking forward, she eyed the yo-yo and smiled. "Here, take this... and enjoy it at your leisure?" She threw it to him, observing him as he inspected the object he'd caught with a curious gaze. She let out a thankful breath when he floated away, having found a new interest to occupy him for the moment. "Merpeople can't speak above the ground, which means I'll only know what is being said if I put the egg underwater..." Taking her bag into her hand, Neona began to gather her scattered books, parchment and ink-stained quills.

It just wasn't her day, thanks to Rita Skeeter. She wanted to crawl into a ditch and die but before she could even contemplate doing so, McGonagall's shrill voice rung through the air to meet her ears. "Lupin!"

Throwing her over her shoulder, she saw the professor was running towards her with a heavy look upon her face. "Professor, I'm already late for Charms as it is... one of Fred and George pranks..." Neona tried to explain, pilling her books and parchment into the back along with the quills, making a mental note that she would have to clean it all up later.

"What in Merlin's name happened?" McGonagall breathed, her eyes on the ink stained floor which when she gave a strict wave of her wand, vanished. She then turned her attention back to her student, raising an eyebrow.

"Peeves."

McGonagall nodded understandingly. "Blasted thing, I barely understand how the Headmaster can reign the tyrant in... he doesn't usually harass you, why did he?" she pressed in concern, knowing that Peeves left her alone because of her friendship with the Weasley twins as fellow pranksters. "Anyhow, I wanted to talk to you before you got to your next lesson."

Neona frowned, "Is something the matter, Professor?"

"I'm just letting you know that you will be excused for your lesson this afternoon, as will the Hufflepuffs for dance practice." Her words successfully confused Neona as she stared blankly at her. "You see, the Yule Ball is approaching, which is a traditional part of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and gives us the opportunity as the host school, to socialize with our guests."

Neona went to speak but McGonagall held up her hand to stop her.

"Dress robes will be worn, and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas evening, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall," Professor McGonagall continued, "The champions and their partners -"

"What partners?" Neona interrupted with a panicked look.

Profesor McGonagall looked suspiciously at her, as though she thought she was trying to be funny, but Neona really had no clue. "Your partners for the Yule Ball, Lupin," she added with an obvious glance. "Your dance partners."

At the mention of dancing, her insides shriveled where others may have done flips of excitement. "D- dance partner?" she stuttered out, trying to resume her usual serene nature. "I don't dance." Neona added quickly.

McGonagall laughed good-naturedly, "Oh yes, you do... there's no escape, I'm telling you." she warned with a stern frown suddenly, making Neona startle at the change in personality. "Traditionally, the champion and their partners open the ball."

"I can't dance," she said.

"It is traditional," Professor McGonagall's voice was and Neona knew she couldn't be challenged. "You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Lupin... and you may think yourself lucky, today is the day you learn how to dance."

"But - I don't -"

Striding past her as she mumbled, McGonagall smirked at her stutters when she was normally so composed. "You heard me, Lupin."


Neona shrunk in her seat when she caught sight of McGonagall walking past the gramophone into the centre of the empty classroom, glancing from one side to another as the girls sat on one and the boys the other. "The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Tri-Wizard Tournament since its inception," pausing, McGonagall glanced around the room until her eyes settled upon Neona. "On Christmas evening, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, 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 if on cue, a symphony of groans emerged from the boys side of the room, however most of the Hufflepuff boys along with Neville seemed content enough while the girls seemed to lighten with excitement, well, maybe not Neona.

"Silence!" McGonagall chastised bitterly, glowering at her Gryffindors as they copied Neona, shrinking back in their seats. "The Yule Ball is, of course, a chance for us all to - er - let our hair down." She smiled, seeming pleased with the idea, however, her voice had betrayed her to inform them that she disapproved of the idea.

Thankfully, no one spoke.

"But that does not mean," Professor McGonagall went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way seeing as we have commanded the respect of the wizarding world for nearly ten centuries but I am also certain, Professor Sprout will feel the same about her own House." she ranted sternly, her glare not faltering for a single moment as she spoke, attempting to strike fear into her students. "That being said, in short means, I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons."

Neona tried to resist a snort at her words, trying her absolute hardest to not laugh, but when she saw Fred and George mumbling her words under their breath, she let it rip free.

McGonagall's head whipped her way, a deep frown displayed as she watched her. "Miss Lupin, if you would refrain from laughing, you may find this very helpful for someone who claims they cannot dance." Neona swore she could see the woman's lips twitch in amusement but she'd turned away again before she could get a proper look. "Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight."

At that, Neona struggled to hold in her laughter again... no swan would be flying free from her body. When her Head of House threw a look her way, she averted her eyes and folded her arms over her chest. Across the room, it seemed Ron had the same idea and made a snide comment which didn't go unnoticed by McGonagall.

"Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance." McGonagall announced with a wide smile, her eyes still trained on Ron, who didn't have a clue what was coming next. "Mr Weasley, will you join me..." She grabbed him, pulling him up to join her in front of the two Houses to his own displeasure and her amusement. "Now, place your right hand on my waist."

Ron almost choked on her words. "Where?" he repeated, in shock.

"My waist."

Reluctantly, he did so and Neona wolf whistled which made him jump, moving to sit back down but McGonagall had caught his arm and pulled him back. "That's it, now bend your arm... Mister Filch, if you please." she ordered as the music started, and so did they. "One, two, three... one, two, three... one, two, three." McGonagall led Ron around as he grimaced. "Everybody, come together!"

At her words, the girls immediately rose from the chairs whereas the boys remained in their seats, having none of it.

"Boys, on you feet!"

Neona remained in her seat, watching as the girls paired up with boys as McGonagall continued with Ron, pulling him along with her which made Neona grin. She hadn't exactly been telling the truth when she'd told her she couldn't dance, she could but just simply chose not to unless it was absolutely necessary. "Come on, Ne!"

Looking up, her eyes narrowed suspiciously when she saw Fred holding his hand out to her. "No, you can go away after your little stunt today." she muttered, her arms still lying crossed over her chest as she stayed in her chair, having no intent in moving.

Fred threw her a sad look, and sighed, getting to her feet with a dark look. "Where is George?" she asked, as they slowly began to waltz, her eyes scanning to crowd.

"He's dancing with Angelina..." he answered, grinning wildly as he led her around the room, careful to not bump into anyone. "We're sorry about setting off the Whiz-bangs like that, and especially not telling you."

Neona watched him for a moment, and decided that he wasn't being at all sincere. "No, you're not." she concluded dully, frowning tiredly at him. "Also, you've lost your trial Screaming Yo-yo to Peeves, so good luck getting it back."

"Oh, Ne! You could have at least fought him for it." Fred let out an annoyed sigh, spinning her around as they continued. "But you're right; we're not sorry."

"You better run before I beat you and your brother bloody." she threatened lowly, only for him to hear, knowing McGonagall wouldn't appreciate hearing the threat fall from her lips.

Fred went to open his mouth but stopped when someone tapped his shoulder, looking around, he saw Cedric smiling widely at him. "May I cut in, Fred?" he asked, not looking at Fred anymore as he gaze had shifted to Neona who was also watching him in return.

Fred nodded and turned around, moving away from them but not before sending her a cheeky wink to tease her. Neona rolled her eyes, which Cedric saw and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm relieved you saved me from Fred or I might have disemboweled one half of the dynamic duo."

Cedric let out a laugh, "Oh, really? Why?" he pressed as he let them around the room, securing his hand at her waist with ease.

Neona sighed deeply, ignoring Cedric's hand as it sat on her waist comfortably. "Fred and George decided to use me as target practice for the trial of their explosives, to be precise, their Whiz-bangs that are impossible to get ride of because they multiple so bloody quickly." she complained begrudgingly, watching as Cedric laughed at her.

"They're harmless..." Cedric comforted, spinning her suddenly as he caught McGonagall's eye from across the room. "So, do you have a date for the Yule Ball yet?"

"I may work fast, but I don't work that fast."

With another smile of his, Cedric went to speak again until McGonagall interrupted him to speak with her student. "Mister Diggory, could I borrow your partner please?" she requested, pulling her from Cedric who looked rather disappointed by her actions. "I don't take well being lied to, Miss Lupin, it seems to me you dance perfectly well for someone who claims they cannot dance at all."

Neona laughed at her, "All right then, I don't dance." she rephrased kindly, seeing McGonagall scowl at her in disapproval.

McGonagall sighed and smiled at her, "I'd also assume you have a dress already, yes?" She knew if she didn't Remus would send one soon, or Lyall would task her dress shopping in Hogsmeade seeing as though there were no females at home. Neona stared meekly at her, clearly not liking the idea. Rolling her eyes, she clasped her hand together to prevent her distress. "A dress, Neona, honestly why do you have to make things so difficult? It's just a dance." she reminded gently, not understanding what she was getting so worked up over.

"Exactly; it's a dance and I don't dance."


A/N: Please read and review, I would love to know what you guys think!

Ezeiel