Chapter 14: The Yule Ball with the Slytherins

They say "Hades hath no fury than a woman scorned." It is indeed quite true. How can I, Ianthé Morgaine Herze, cure my shattered-to-pieces heart? As I ran from Viktor when we secretly met to discuss how he's going to ask Hermione Granger out to the Yule Ball, I bumped into Blaise Zabini of Slytherin. He immediately asked me out. Out of my anger at Viktor, I agreed.

"Just what were you thinking when you agreed to go with Zabini?"

I didn't feel like I could answer her at that time. I was confused. Why was I angry at Viktor in the first place? Why would I be jealous? Isn't he just one of my closest friends?

"What about you? Who are you going with?"

"I go as a free agent, but I'll hang out with George so I could have some info on Charlie…. Hey, don't change the topic here! Why did you agree to go out with that prat?"

Ianthé shrugged.

"What exactly happened to your meeting with Krum?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

I was writing a letter to my mother, telling her Andy is here in Hogwarts and she's going with Edmond to the Ball and how they make quite a good match. I couldn't afford to tell her my situation. Mother still thinks Blaise's mother is a Galleon-digging social climber. I just told her to get me another pair of dress robes, something in dark green, as to match my partner's; I wanted to look regal and very beautiful at the Ball.

"Come on, you're not yourself lately… The twins wanted intel on the progress of our joke goodies. I told them they could get the info after the Christmas holidays… So, dating Blaise means you're hanging out with the Slytherins then?"

Ianthé half-heartedly shrugged, "Probably… I guess…"

All the days I have walked like a zombie all over school, I didn't cry. No, no, Ianthé Morgaine Herze does not cry. Crying is a form of weakness. I am not weak.

The day of the Yule Ball came. I found myself being escorted by Blaise to their table. I narrowed my eyes, as I saw Viktor with Hermione (who indeed did look pretty in her periwinkle robes). I inhaled deeply as I hear Pansy Parkinson beside me unleash a long litany of insults regarding Hermione. My anger didn't quite subside yet, so I let her go on and on.

"Blaise, may I take Ianthé for a dance?" Draco asked his friend.

Ianthé looked at Pansy, who nodded as a sign of agreement. She let Draco take her hand and lead her to the dance floor.

"Glad you agreed to go with us. I thought I lost you to that bunch of blood traitors and half-bloods."

"What made you think of that?"

"I saw you talking to those weasels. I felt a bit jealous."

"Really? Why?"

"Because I don't get the opportunity to talk to you as often as they could. You know I hate it when people ignore me."

Their gaze both soon landed upon the dancing form of Viktor and Hermione.

"You know, Draco, it's such a shame to have someone as popular and as rich as Krum to go out with a filthy Mudblood such as that piece of garbage…"

"My, my… I think you have rubbed off of Pansy tonight."

She shook her head, "Let's not muddle our minds with such thoughts and enjoy our night….. I was surprised when Pansy let me dance with you."

"She cannot do anything about it, I guess. I think she heard me say that our fathers are trying to match us up."

I don't know what I was thinking at that time. Is it because of pure spite or just my head swimming in mead? I so wanted to be comforted by someone, someone who would think I'm more special than anybody else. I thought I found that someone in Draco.

"Do you really think we make quite a good match?"

Draco smiled at her, "Of course. Our family fortunes are just a plus. You are beautiful and intelligent. Who wouldn't want you?"

Viktor… He didn't want me. He disregarded my feelings.

Ianthé smiled at him and held him closer than usual.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the dancefloor…

"Why is she with him?" Edmond asked Amandine while they were dancing to a slow song.

"It's a big puzzle. She isn't talking to me or to Nikki… She hasn't been herself lately…"

"Since when?"

"Since… o dear Merlin!"

"What?"

"Since she met up with Viktor! He sent her an owl to meet with her. We all thought he was going to ask her to the Yule Ball. He went with another girl. We just learned that Ianthé was going to go with Blaise Zabini. She ended up hanging around with their bunch."
Edmond, however, was still watching Ianthé.

"You still think she's the little girl we left all alone, don't you?"

"Sometimes, I just feel guilty when I didn't fight to go to Hogwarts. She's almost my sister and she always looks up to me for help. I feel it's my fault that she matured easily those four years we weren't there…"

"I think you did quite a number on her. She's strong, I know it. She can handle herself. Now, we should enjoy the party. I'm sure Ianthé would not like us to guard her all night."

Edmond smiled at her, "I'm happy you agreed to go with me. I thought when I asked you, you would do another Jelly Legs jinx again."

Amandine laughed, "Let's forget about the whole thing, okay?"

"Nikki, can you repeat it again? What is Ianthé doing with the Slytherins?" George choked on his punch.

"You want info on them? All the dirt? There she is, wheedling another information from Malfoy."

"You mean to tell me, she wasted the whole Ball for information on the Slytherins?"

Nikki smiled at the bluff she didn't thought she could make, "That's how she is. Once she wanted something, she puts all her energy to get it."

"The next time I see her, I'm going to give her a big hug!"

"Come on, let's dance!" Nikki pulled George to the dance floor.

The night ended with me drunk from the spiked punch. I saw Edmond with Amandine, looking at me from the corner of his eyes. I wonder why they had fun while I didn't. Draco led me to the grounds. He must've hoped to get a good grope on me. He was not too lucky as someone was following us… Edmond.

"Put another finger on her dress robes and you'll be blown into oblivion…" Edmond said darkly as he pointed his wand at Draco's throat.

I was struggling against Draco's grip when he started kissing my neck before Edmond arrived.

Draco released Ianthé and scrambled to run back to the castle.

"Git." Edmond placed his wand inside his pocket, "Are you okay?"

I took one look at the only person who really cared for me and I cried.

"What's wrong?"

"I got all mad. I feel stupid now…"

"When our fathers said crying is a form of weakness, they were wrong. Even the bravest men cry. So cry, cry your heart out."

There, I cried my heart out. I think I drenched the front of Eddie's robes that night. When I got to the common room, I felt a little better.