Nico P.O.V.

"Listen up. I have been notified that all students in fourth year and above must attend a meeting in the Great Hall. Demigods must also attend." Everyone just stared at Snape. He sneered, "go!" That got us moving. I got caught in a wave of rushing students. They dragged me up and out of the dungeons to the Great Hall. Once we were out of the dungeon, I actually started pushing myself. The whole castle was decorated for Christmas. Suits of armor sang carols when someone passed them, icicles dripped endlessly, snow fell from the sky and disappeared on the ground in the hallways. In short, it was terrifying.

"Nicki, come on." Clarisse grabbed my arm, a daring move, and dragged me to the side of the hall. The four long tables were gone, and on the sides of the room were benches. We met up with Percy and Annabeth, thought they were too "busy" to notice us.

"Don't ever call me 'Nicki' again!" I hissed, eyes glowing. Clarisse just smirked and glared at the middle of the room. "What?"

"What is that?" I followed her gaze. In the middle of the room was an old music playing thing, I wasn't sure what they were called. I shrugged. I nudged Clarisse and nodded towards Annabeth. She grinned.

"Hey, owl-face, once you're done sucking your boyfriends face, wanna tell us what that thing is?" Clarisse practically yelled. Every kid from camp looked over and snickered. The wizards seemed confused, though some laughed as well. Annabeth stopped kissing Percy and turned her death glare on Clarisse.

"It's a gramophone, bacon head." Clarisse's smile turned vicious.

"Attention!" The scary woman teacher stood in the middle of the room. "To celebrate the coming together of the two worlds, we are hosting a ball." The girls, witches and campers, clapped their hands excitedly and talked amongst each other while the guys grumbled and stared at their feet. "Be quiet! Now the Mazi Ball is extremely formal and will be treated as such. Wizards must wear dress robes, and witches must wear suitable and appropriate gowns. Male demigods must wear, as I understand it, tuxedoes that have a representation to their parent. And female demigods must wear gowns that have the representation of their parent." She paused and glanced around. "It is required to go as to show respect and acceptation of each other." She stared meaningfully at the Slytherins. "Today, we are learning the dances to each others cultures. Find a partner and stand in the middle of the room."

I slumped against the benches. Slowly and carefully, I started to slide towards the shadowy part of the bench. Percy grabbed my jacket and hoisted me up.

"Uh uh. I know you had the idea of pointing us out to everyone. You're not going anywhere." By the scruff of my jacket and pulled me in the middle.

"No, please, Jackson. I don't dance! I don't even have a partner!"

"We need to get you one then. Stand-up, Reaper." To fight him, I had gone boneless and slumped to the ground. People were watching our transaction curiously. I guess Percy was working on his arm strength, cause he completely picked me up and dropped me on my feet.

"Βιδώστε σας!" He laughed and rested his hand on my back.

"How bout a witch?" I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. "Um, how about- Aphrodite kid?" I looked around, and every Aphrodite kid had a partner. Lou Ellen passed by and Percy caught her by the shoulder. She wheeled around and saw me. She thought I stopped her.

"Oh, Nico. What do you want?"

"Um, I-"

"Do you have a partner?" Percy took charge. Lou shook her head. "What a coincidence! Nico doesn't either." He gave me a small shove, and I stumbled forward. He grinned and went to find Annabeth. I smiled shyly at Lou and silently cursed Percy.

"Gentlemen, take your partner's left hand and place your arm around her waist. Only her waist!" She started the music.

Ron P.O.V

"How am I supposed to get a date! They're all taken! Soon Harry and I are gonna be going with trolls if we don't get a date." Hermione humphed and went back to reading. I kicked Harry out of his thoughts. He had been staring into the fire, mindlessly rubbing his scar. "Is it hurting?" He shook his head.

"I was just thinking." He shook himself and joined his thoughts with mine about the ball. "I asked Cho." My eyes shot up.

"Great! Wait, no. Now I'm going to be the only one without a date!" I looked around the common room and saw Hermione reading. "Hey, Hermione, why don't we go together? A girl can't show up all by herself." Wrong thing to say. She slammed her book shut and shot out of the chair.

"This may shock you to hear, but someone has already asked me!" She turned to the stairs, and as an afterthought, "and I said yes!" And stomped and I exchanged glances.

"Cho said no. She's going with Cedric." Harry said glumly. The Fat Lady opened up to reveal AP, who tripped over the step coming in. I thought of an idea and called him over.

"Percy, haha, um I was wondering if there were any-girls from your camp that don't have a date... Yet." He raised his eyebrows and slid into the chair Hermione was sitting in.

"Mm, I don't think all of the Ares kids have one."

"Oh, um, hah, they kinda... Scare me..." He laughed and agreed.

"Once you get on their good side, they are frie-nah their still pretty frightening." AP nodded to Harry. "I'd have thought you'd get a date easily." Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm not the schools favorite person right now." AP nodded and stared into the fire thoughtfully.

"How about-Athena kids. I bet Annabeth could ask one for you two?" I nodded emphatically, and Harry shrugged.

"Harry, what's up?" I whispered.

"I'm expecting a letter from Sir-Snuffles." APercy sat forward.

"Who's Sir Snuffles?"

"A-friend." I said carefully. "He got whacked in the head to hard so he thinks he's a knight and his name is Snuffles." AP didnt look convinced but left it alone. Harry shook off his stupor and watched Parvati walk bye.

"One sec." He pushed himself out of the chair and followed Patil. He returned shortly with a smile. "Well, Ron, I have solved our problems. Parvati said shed go with me and her sister, Padme." I sat up straighter, smiling.

"Thanks, AP, but I think we're covered." AP laughed and stood up. I joined him and stretched. "Maybe it won't be so bad?"

Ideas of who other people, Clarisse, Nico, and Hermione should go with to the ball plzzz

Mazi-Μαζί-together

Βιδώστε σας- screw you

Bidoste sas-