Fourteen.

Lena ran out to the common room window, where a knocked out bird nearly fell off the ledge. Lena levitated the poor thing through the window, opened the window and brought it inside. It clutched a scroll in it's claws. Lena removed it and tried to heal the bird.

She opened the scroll.

Lena,

I know you got this because you're the only Slytherin that would have helped this bird. Which is why I had to make sure it died right when it arrived at Hogwarts. Sorry.

Lena stopped reading at looked at the dead bird apologetically.

You will meet your correspondent at Hog's Head at ten. The two of you will go to the Forbidden Forest to retrieve the package. Do. Not. Be. Late. The Dark Lord threatens death.

Love always, your mother and father.

The letter exploded in her hands. Nobody in the common room bothered to look anymore. This kind of thing was common when almost half of the population of Slytherin had parents who were also part of the Dark Lord's plan.

Lena threw the shredded up note on the ground in anger, though it made no effect and the pieces floated like feathers to the ground.

The night was still young. Lena checked the time. Four-thirty.

Lena ran upstairs and got herself looking fabulous.

As she walked into the common room, Blaise's red eyes beamed at her as he held his arm outstretched. She took his arm and looked around hesitantly for Draco. He was no where in sight. Nor was Pansy.

Blaise twirled her around as he admired her expensive ball gown.

It was silver and trimmed in blue in all the right places. Her back was almost completely exposed and the bodice was covered in expensive jewels. The hem was perfectly tailored to her height, and the skirt had just enough volume to make Lena's figure look perfect.

Her hair was up in a fancy bun, and a few stray curls completed the look.

Lena moved gracefully, placing her wand in a small handbag which she had placed an extendable and feathering charm on to make it so she could fit everything, even a change of clothes and a few books for a possible train ride.

Pausing by the door, Lena looked into Blaise's eyes. Her lips drew closer to his. Their lips met and they kissed for a long time. Blaise's tongue dazzled her mouth, causing explosions of butterflies in her stomach, which only lead to a sudden nausea. Lena drew away. She felt his eyes piercing into the back of her head. She did not need to look to know it was him.

Draco.

He glared at her the entire time he walked by, holding hands with Pansy, who wore a drab and slinky cocktail dress.

A surge of jealousy aroused in her stomach and she no longer felt nauseous.

"You were informed that this was formal, I hope, Parkinson," Lena spat acidly before the two could step out of the common room. "Cocktail dresses are hardly even semi-formal."

Pansy blushed crimson and took a hurried glance down at her dress and one inch heels, then glanced back at Lena's expensive ensemble from a haute couture Italian designer. Draco saved her, pulling her away from the insult without a word.

She breathed deeply for a few seconds, letting Draco get a head start before she dragged Blaise out of the common room and toward the Great Hall; it would be beautifully decorated, and a huge feast that would mostly go to waste would be waiting for these wizards who would try to be classy for one night.

Lena felt her heartbeat throughout her head. Her breathing would not slow down. She sat at a private table with Blaise. The entire Great Hall had been rearranged. The long tables had been replaced with varying sizes of circular tables, from two person tables, to 12 seats. The ceiling had foot wide floating lanterns, which was surprisingly not that amazing. However, the fairies sprinkling glowing, rainbow dust was another story. Draco sat at the only huge table, arrogantly telling a story to most of the cool Slytherins. Lena held Blaise's hand atop the table.

Food appeared suddenly on the plates in front of everybody. Exactly what she had wanted. And everyone else had something different.

Blaise and Lena began to eat the meal, before being interrupted by Dumbledore.

"Blah, blah, blah, how old is he anyway? Shouldn't he be in the grave?"

Blaise laughed appropriately, but Lena got a strange feeling that Dumbledore had heard her as his eyes pierced into her.

"I'm going to go freshen up." Lena stood and walked away from Blaise, and toward the bathrooms, which had a steady stream coming in and out of the door. Pushing past the others, Lena got herself in front of a mirror.

"Draco's such a good kisser."

Lena snapped around. Pansy was standing in the corner, surrounded by a bunch of giggling girls, who where probably only at the ball because of boys like Crabbe and Goyle.

"So good. And he's better at other things too. He treats me like a princess. Constantly wanting to touch me."

"Sounds like such a gentlemen," Lena remarked coldly. The giggling ceased as the girl drew closer. "Slut." Lena walked out of the bathroom without any fear. Though, she was aware she may have just started something that could have waited for another night.

A bell tolled nine times. She had less than an hour with Blaise before she would have to leave. She sat at the table with him once again. She looked at him. His handsome face. Lena looked over at Draco, who was no longer the center of attention. Pansy was.

No. I am. They were all looking at her. Lena glared back and kissed Blaise. Draco was drawing closer, getting into ear range. Blaise had no idea.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Blaise asked as Lena pulled out of the kiss slowly.

Perfect timing.

"Yes!" Lena exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Blaise's neck and giving him another long smooch. It was peculiar how the sharp, cold, wind brazed the back of her neck as Draco walked by, seemingly changing his mind about approaching the table. And with that icy breeze, she felt something really nasty coming on.

"Let's dance!" Lena yelled over the music of some lame, poppy witch band. The two of them got close to the stage with all of the fans of the crappy music. She pretended to like it, having the little fun she could before she had to go.

Lena gestured for Blaise to follow her after a long while. She led him into a dark, quiet corridor outside of the Great Hall. "I have to leave now."

"Come on, Lena, it's so hard to get five minutes with you."

"True. But maybe my schedule will free up soon enough," she lied. "See ya." She kissed him swiftly and walked quickly up the stairs to a side exit.