The ball had been going for at least three hours, after dinner and everything there was no more reason to stay, at least, not for Harry and Ron. Parvati was taken to dance with one of the Durmstrang boys, and Padma joined them after a while. So Ron and Harry were sitting alone at the table, watching people leave and the rest partying. After a while Amber joined them, out of breath and red in the cheeks.
'Wow! This has been a fantastic, hasn't it?'
'Yeah, just fantastic!' Ron said sarcastically.
'Well Draco has gone off somewhere. Want to go for a walk?' She offered to the boys.
'Nah, too tired to walk now. Maybe Harry will.'
Amber turned from Ron to Harry.
'Maybe just now. Go ask Hermione maybe.'
Before Amber could ask Hermione to go for a walk, Hermione came to their table, and Viktor was walking away between the tables.
'Viktor went to get drinks. You want to come with for a walk?' She asked Amber a few feet from the boys' table.
'Yeah, I've been meaning to see this fairy garden everyone is talking about.'
They left, leaving Harry and Ron to watch everyone dancing.
'How are you enjoying your night with Viktor?' Amber asked Hermione.
They were out in the fairy garden now, which really was a fairies' garden. There were some rose bushes lining a path around the fairy garden. There were a few statues around the paths and some benches, most of which occupied.
'Look! There's Madame Maxine and Hagrid.' Amber pointed through some bushes to a bench in a dark opening.
'Aww isn't that sweet?' Hermione cooed.
They carried on walking, the winding path getting confusing after a while.
'Time we headed back you think?' Hermione asked.
Amber nodded and they turned trying to retrace their steps. They saw a few people kissing among the roses and on the benches.
'Is that…my sister?' Amber asked after seeing a red dress shining behind a statue.
'Yes, and she's kissing someone. Who was her date?' Hermione said.
'As far as I know she didn't have a date…' Amber said curiously. They walked for a little bit further and saw who it was, Draco Malfoy.
'OH MY GOD! YOU LOW-LIFE BASTARD!' Amber shouted at Draco through clenched teeth.
Draco opened his mouth to speak, but it was slapped shut by a hard backhand.
'Getting drinks hey? What is it, TONSIL JUICE?' She pulled out her wand, from who knows where, and pointed it at Draco's head.
'Give me a good reason not to do it?' She asked, her jaw still tight.
He kept his eyes closed, not even trying to reason. Hermione pulled Amber away, telling her to put her wand away.
'So I take it that it's over between us?' He asked, going back to his usual cocky self.
Amber spun around and held her wand straight at him.
'Stupefy!' She shouted, and Draco fell to the ground like a rock.
'And when he wakes up, tell him it's over my DEAR SISTER!' Amber said coldly to her sister, venom in that word sister.
Cerise knelt over Draco and cupped her hand over his cheek.
'I never knew you had it in you!' Cerise shouted as Amber was walking away.
'Just make sure I don't do the same to you.' She shouted back, not even turning to look at Cerise.
Hermione and Amber walked back to the Great hall, not either one speaking, mainly Hermione was too shocked and Amber, too upset.
'I think I'm just going to go upstairs, Hermione.' Amber said once they reached the Entrance hall.
'I'll see you just now, just want to say goodnight to Viktor.'
'Its ok Hermione; finish the ball with Viktor. I'm just gonna curl up with a book.' Amber said, not wanting to ruin her night.
'Are you sure? I mean…'
'Yes Hermione, I'm sure.' Amber pushed Hermione off in the direction of the Great Hall and waved her off.
Amber bunched up her dress with one hand and walked up to Gryffindor tower. No one was in the common room; she sat on their couch in front of the fire, which was hardly burning. She put her head in her hands, slowly letting tears come to her eyes.
'Hey, what's wrong?' Amber heard a voice behind her, then felt two warm hands on her bare shoulders.
She jumped, her first reaction to wipe the tears off her cheeks. Her hair was slowly coming out of its bun, falling all over her face. She turned and saw Harry behind her, concern written across his face.
'What's wrong Amz?' He asked again, walking over to her side of the couch.
'Nothing. I'm fine.' She lied, letting her hair out of its bun, trying to hide her face in a hair veil.
'Oh, you're lying!' Harry joked, sounding like a five-year old, sitting on the couch next to her.
'Yeah I'm lying, through and through.' She sniffed, her voice starting to choke up.
'So tell me what's wrong…' Harry sounded caring.
'It's…Draco.'
Harry rolled his eyes, as if he already knew that.
'He was…kissing my sister…in the fairy garden.' She croaked through hushed tears.
Harry just couldn't think of anything to say, all he could do was put an arm around Amber, hoping to comfort her. Amber threw her arms around Harry's neck and laid her head in the nape of his neck.
'I…really thought…' She sobbed.
'Shh…' Harry whispered to her through hair, stroking it softly with his free hand.
Her tears were wetting Harry's dress shirt slowly, but he didn't mind. Amber sat up slowly after crying for twenty minutes.
'I'm sorry Harry. This is more girl stuff; I should've spoken to Hermione.' She said shakily, wiping the few tears left off her cheeks.
'I really don't mind. Really.' He said placing his one hand on her bare shoulder.
She just shook her head and held it low, tears starting to come to her eyes again. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest. She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around Harry's back.
'I wish I had someone like you.' She said softly, her voice now normal again.
'W…what?' Harry said shocked, still holding her.
'I wish I had someone that held me like you do; make me feel better, happy and loved all at once.' She said softly, still holding onto Harry.
Harry went wide-eyed, just hearing what he did made him feel like he had a chance, an even better chance than when Amber was still with Draco. But maybe she was just too upset to realise what she had just said to him.
'I think you should go to bed. Get some rest and don't worry about everything. We'll fix that tomorrow.' Harry said, helping her up while still holding her.
She nodded with tight lips, realising how terrible she must look with her hair loose and her make-up ruined. She stood back and tucked her hair behind her one ear, starting to walk for the stairs.
'Amber!' Harry called.
She turned around and saw Harry still standing by the couch, with a smile on his face.
'You look beautiful tonight.' He smiled, making it sincere and true.
Amber didn't say anything, just smiled and carried on up the stairs.
'Well then you know the solution, DON'T YOU?' The portrait hole opened and Ron and Hermione were arguing about something.
'Ask me out BEFORE someone ELSE DOES!' She screeched at Ron, but Ron pretended like he wasn't listening, instead looking surprised to see Harry.
'Harry…' He gulped, hoping he would run.
Hermione looked at Harry and started shouting at him too.
'Where have you been?'
Harry looked around confused and got up ready to leave.
'Never mind! Go to bed, both of you!' Hermione wiped away a tear.
'They get scary when they get older.' Ron said to Harry, as they were walking up the stairs.
'YOU RUINED EVEYTHING!' Hermione shouted at them and they hurried up the stairs faster.
'Geez! Seems like every Gryffindor girl is having a rough night.' Harry said taking off his dress shirt and putting on his pyjamas.
'Why you say that? Most of the other Gryffindor girls are still partying down stairs.' Ron asked, putting on his pyjamas as well, looking at Harry sitting on his bed.
'Well Hermione wasn't the only one crying tonight. That Malfoy…' Anger rose in Harry's chest and he clenched his sheets in his hands.
'That Malfoy cheated on Amber…with her sister!' Harry almost shouted, punching the bedpost closest to him.
'What? You're joking? I didn't think Malfoy could get slimier…' Ron said climbing under his covers.
'Amber was so upset, I mean, maybe even more than Hermione. Without the screaming that is.' Harry said lying down and pulling his covers over himself.
'Seems like Christmas isn't the best time of year after all.' Ron said, turning over and falling asleep.