It was a cold December evening when the fourth year students of Hogwarts were heading to their next class: Transfiguration. It was strange, actually. We didn't have class today with McGonagall. But, a short-time notice on the board in the Gryffindor common room had called all the students above the fourth years, in specific hours, to head to the Head of our house's classroom.

Many were slightly apprehensive, thinking we had gone into trouble and now all the house was going to be punished. But later though, we learned that not only Gryffindor was going to have a meeting with our Head of house, the other houses were too.

To my suspicion, the classroom had been cleared and the desks were backed against the walls (same way Moody did before) and there was an old big Gramophone in the farthest wall to the door. The boys put themselves on the left side of the room while the girls grabbed chairs and sat opposite them. I had only grabbed one for Hermione, but I preferred to stand up.

"What do you think this is about?" I whispered to Hermione. She shook her head.

"I'm not sure."

Whispers filled from both sides as we curiously waited for Professor McGonagall to arrive. What was all the mystery for?

A loud click made us glance up and we saw our HeadHouse arriving with somewhat a sour look on her face. Following behind her was – wait, JAMES?!

The chatting had died at the moment we saw her – except for Harry and Ron, both playing with some fake wands (provided by the Weasley twins).

Professor McGonagall briskly walked to the middle of the classroom, James rushing past her to the Gramophone, looking like he wanted to laugh so badly.

Everyone around was gazing at him with curious glances as he played with the device. What was a Durmstrang doing here?

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, catching our attention.

Well, except two.

"Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?"

Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration room, making said boys jump. Ron was holding a tin parrot and Harry, a rubber haddock.

"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age," Professor McGonagall said, with an angry look at the pair of them as the head of Harry's haddock drooped and fell silently to the floor - Ron's parrot's beak had severed it moments before - "I have something to say to you all.

"The Yule Ball is approaching - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. 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."

That got everyone whispering at once. The girls looking at each other excitedly, the boys groaning and slumping on their wall. I looked over at James and saw him smirking at the scene.

"Silence!" Professor McGonagall yelled. At once, everyone shut up. "Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above - although you may invite a younger student if you wish -"

Lavender let out a shrill giggle, making Parvati nudge her hard on the ribs, furiously working on her face to not giggle. Professor McGonagall ignored the pair. That was unfair actually. She didn't call them off like Harry and Ron.

"Dress robes will be worn," Professor McGonagall continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then -" she stared around at us, "to dance… is to let the body breath. Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight, a chance for us all to - er - let our hair down," Professor McGonagall smiled, looking over at our side of the room. Lavender giggled harder at this. It was hard to imagine Professor McGonagall with all her hair down.

"Inside every boy," she continued, "a lordly lion prepared to prance."

Professor McGonagall then suddenly stopped in front of the boys, whom were whispering together with Seamus.

"Mr. Weasley."

"Yes?" Ron gulped.

"Will you join me, please?" she asked, pulling him to his feet by the shoulder of his sweater while Harry and Seamus smiled at him and pushed him forward.

Professor McGonagall looked over at us, frowning some.

"Miss Barton," I snapped my head sharply at her. "If you join us, please."

I quickly looked over at James and found him with his fist on his mouth, looking like he was chocking himself for not laughing. Glaring at him, I reluctantly walked to McGonagall and Ron on the middle of the classroom, very aware of the stares following my back.

"Face each other," Professor McGonagall motioned to the two of us. Confused and slightly terrified, we did so.

"Now, Mr. Leopold –" I choked a laugh. His complete name was Leopold?! "– has told me you had already done this before, Miss Barton."

I groaned. The Gramophone, the cleared desks, and I still hadn't the foggiest idea of what this was about? I am very ashamed of myself.

"Yes, Professor," I hissed the yes quite madly. I looked over at James and saw his eyes dancing with mirth over at the two of us.

Note to myself: never ever tell any embarrasing stories of my youth to James.

Ron was looking quite confused as to what McGonagall was talking about.

"Very well, then. Weasley, place your right hand on her waist."

"Where?" asked Ron, looking horrified. I closed my eyes, beginning to feel embarrassed about this.

"Her waist," Professor McGonagall repeated as the catcalls started. Blushing madly, I raised my left arm and put my hand on his right shoulder. McGonagall deliberately put Ron's hand on my waist. "And extend your arm."

Sighing, I extended my right arm and grabbed hold of his free hand. The one that wasn't touching my waist.

"Mr. Leopold, if you please," the Professor called. Giving us both thumbs up with a smirk, James put the needle on the disk and the music began.

"One two three, one two three, one two three," McGonagall counted as we awkwardly moved around in circles.

Ron wasn't a bad dancer, but the fact that we weren't looking at each other, made us stumble in our feet.

"I'm going to kill him," I growled as I saw James laughing full-heartily now.

"Can I join you?" Ron asked darkly, twirling me around.

"Not at all, Ron. The more, the merrier."

"Everybody come together!" Professor McGonagall instructed.

Immediately, all of the girls practically jumped out of their chairs and ran to the center of the room. However, the boys didn't move an inch and even slouched lower into their chairs.

"Boys, on your feet," McGonagall called again.

Taking a deep breath, only Neville did so, and the girls immediately bounced on him.

I never had accounted how much girls lived on Hogwarts. Every time I was on the library, I found – not just the Krum fan club - , but a lot of other bunches of girls, hidden on every bookshelf the place possessed.

When we were eating on the Great Hall, girls always looked over at Harry or James, with possessing eyes. They always glared at Hermione or me when they saw who were sitting with the boys.

Technically, in small words, all the Hogwarts girls were obsessed with getting dates, no matter what happens.

Girls giggling and whispering in the corridors, girls shrieking with laughter as boys passed them, girls excitedly comparing notes on what they were going to wear on Christmas night...Many of the boys were skirting about the halls, moving in pairs and trios, muttering to each other and pointing to the girls they were going to ask...

This was madness!

And apparently, the boys thought the same.

Harry, now being famous between the gossips, was being asked by a few girls. A curly-haired third-year Hufflepuff girl we had seen around, but never talked at all, asked him the very next day. Without even thinking, Harry had said no. looking hurt, she walked away and Harry had to endure Ron's, Seamus's and Dean's about her through all the History class. James's taunting was on the Great Hall only. The following day, two more girls asked him, a second year and, to my amusement, a fifth year who looked as though she might knock him out if he refused.

"She was quite good-looking," Ron said fairly, after Harry declined her invitation.

"She was a foot taller than me," Harry shuddered. "Imagine what I'd look like trying to dance with her."

When it came to dates, Hermione, Neville and I had decided to turn deaf. But it was quite difficult when you were with James. I mean, I know he's good-looking, handsome even, but I didn't know the entire Hogwarts and Beauxbatons population was infatuated with him! Girls asked him, and, with a charming smile, James told them that he wasn't available.

One of Fleur Delacour's friends had decided to become our daily stalker, and followed us around the castle. The library, the Great Hall, the corridors, the Black Lake…

I asked James why he denied all the invitations.

"I already know who I want to go with."

Clearly, Neville knew. And as much as I asked, he only gave me an apologizing smile and said, "You'll see."

To my shock, I was asked by a Durmstrang boy – Poliakoff, was it? – to go with him to the Yule Ball, but I politely declined. He looked so heartbroken that made me feel guilty through all our Charms class.

Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff asked me too, but I remembered how of a snob was he with Harry in our second year, and again, I politely declined. He, contrary at Poliakoff, turned his nose up at me, and walked off with a dignified stance.

And it continued like that. I was asked by two Ravenclaws, six Gryffindors from seventh and fifth year, and suspiciously, a polite Theodore Nott of Slytherin.

I always said no.

The last week of term became increasingly boisterous as it progressed. Rumors about the Yule Ball were flying everywhere, I didn't believe half of them - for instance, that Mr. Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta. Though, the only rumor I think is true was that he booked the Weird Sisters. A rock wizarding band whose's songs I had heard all over the summer, courtesy of Tonks of course. The fact that the entire group was formed by men and was called the 'Weird Sisters' still intrigued me.

Some teachers, like Flitwick, had already given up on trying to catch their class's attention. But Professor McGonagall, Moody, Binns and Snape, had decided to put us more work. Like for instance, Snape had made the nastily decision of testing us on poison antidotes during the last lesson of the term.

I was returning from the library one afternoon, like usual actually.

"Because George wants to invite him to the ball," I heard one of the Weasley twins say sarcastically.

"Because we want to send a letter, you stupid great prat," said the other.

"Who d'you two keep writing to, eh?" said Ron.

"Nose out, Ron, or I'll burn that for you too," said Fred, waving his wand threateningly. "So… you lot got dates for the ball yet?"

"Nope," the boys said gloomily.

"Well, you'd better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones will be gone," said Fred.

"Who're you going with, then?" said Ron, annoyed.

"Angelina," said Fred promptly, without a trace of embarrassment.

"Oh, have you already asked her, then?" I said, making myself known. Thoughtfully, Fred raised his hand to his chin.

"Good point," said Fred. He turned his head and called across the common room, "Oy! Angelina!"

Angelina, who had been chatting with Alicia Spinnet near the fire, looked over at him.

"What?" she called back.

"Want to come to the ball with me?"

Angelina gave Fred an appraising sort of look.

"All right, then," she said, and she turned back to Alicia and carried on chatting with a bit of a grin on her face.

"There you go," said Fred to Harry and Ron, "piece of cake."

He got to his feet, yawning, and said, "We'd better use a school owl then, George, come on…"

They left. Ron stopped feeling his eyebrows (which I just noticed they were burned) and looked across the smoldering wreck of his card castle at Harry.

"We should get a move on, you know… ask someone. He's right. We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls."

I had taken a seat on the couch besides Hermione, and from there, I looked up at him in complete shock.

"Excuse me?"

"A – a pair of what?" Hermione spluttered.

"Well - you know," said Ron, shrugging. "I'd rather go alone than with – with Eloise Midgen, say."

"Her acne's loads better lately - and she's really nice!" I said quickly, frowning at his words.

"Her nose is off-center," said Ron as if this naturally explained all.

"Oh I see," Hermione said, bristling. "So basically, you're going to take the best-looking girl who'll have you, even if she's completely horrible?"

"Er - yeah, that sounds about right," Ron said.

"I'm going to bed," Hermione snapped, and she swept off towards the girls dormitory without another word.

I grabbed one of my books, the heavier one, and gave Ron a swift blow to the head.

"Blimey Anne!"

The Hogwarts staff, demonstrating a continued desire to impress the visitors from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, seemed determined to show the castle at its best this Christmas. When the decorations went up, I noticed they were more astounding than I had ever seen on my last three years.

Everlasting icicles had been attached to the banisters of the marble staircase, the usual twelve Christmas trees in the Great Hall were bedecked with everything from luminous holly berries to real, hooting, golden owls, and the suits of armor had all been bewitched to sing carols whenever anyone passed them. It was quite something to hear "O Come, All Ye Faithful", sung by an empty helmet that only knew half the words. Several times, Filch the caretaker had to extract Peeves from inside the armor, where he had taken to hiding, filling in the gaps in the songs with lyrics of his own invention, all of which were very rude.

And still, I didn't have a date for the Yule Ball. There were still loads of boys that asked me, but I all told them no. I was starting to get frustrated with all of this – mumbo jumbo.

Harry and Ron were getting very nervous now, though as Harry pointed out, Ron would look much less stupid than he would without a partner; Harry was supposed to be starting the dancing with the other champions.

"I suppose there's always Moaning Myrtle," he said gloomily, referring to the ghost who haunted the girls' toilets on the second floor.

"Harry - we've just got to grit our teeth and do it," said Ron on Friday morning, in a tone that suggested they were planning the storming of an impregnable fortress.

"When we get back to the common room tonight, we'll both have partners - agreed?"

"Er… okay," said Harry.

I looked between them, somewhat amused. These – these two boys, they have saved the Sorcerer's stone, helped to solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, discovering Peter Pettigrew as Voldemort's servant, and Harry fought a dragon, and they STILL don't have got dates?

Shame on them.

In Snape's Potions class that afternoon, I saw that Neville was having a hard time concentrating on his test. Consequently, he forgot to add the key ingredient - a bezoar - and received bottom marks. Actually, this time was better than the last classes.

When the bell rang, Harry grabbed his bag, and hurried to the dungeon door.

"I'll meet you at dinner," he said to us and dashed off upstairs.

"Right, I'll see you two later," Ron said, and in the same way as Harry, he ran away.

"I'm going to the library," Hermione said, and in her own way, she left.

I was standing on the corridor looking quite ridiculous.

"What just happened?" I muttered.

Starting to go to the Great Hall, I muttered angrily to myself.

"First the Tournament, then Cedric Diggory badges, now the Yule Ball and the whole asking dates thing," I sad all of this in a rush.

"Hello Annie," Neville said, appearing on my side.

"This – this Yule Ball, is a complete racist method of punishment to all the girls and boys," I continued, not paying him attention.

"Um, Annie…?"

"No – this, is beyond my comprehension, I would not succumb to this – this Celtic cult where teenagers get to show off,"

"Annie."

"Where the Alpha always get to be known – ugh! I can't even think a properly excuse for this!"

"Annie, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"

I snapped my head towards him so quickly I thought my neck had cracked.

"What?" I breathed.

Neville, looking quite shy suddenly, looked down, his hair hiding his eyes. But still, I could see the tips of his ears turning slowly red.

"I said – if – if you wanted to go with me… not that you have to! We could go as friends – or maybe we shouldn't go at all –"

"Yes."

I blinked. I didn't even have thought of the question at all. But what was the problem. Neville was my friend and like he had said, we could just go together as mates.

"Ye – yes?" Neville stammered.

I laughed. "Yes, Neville. I'll go with you."

"But – what about all your rant –"

"As you see, I got finally frustrated with all of this."

We bot laughed and walked off to the Great Hall.

However, when we arrived, we almost crashed into James.

"Sorry, sorry," he muttered, sobbing his shoulder. "Neville can you see her?"

"See who?" I asked.

"You still haven't asked her?" exclaimed Neville, looking quite surprised.

"Well, you could say I delayed a bit on the date," James said sarcastically, raising his neck to see this 'her' of his.

"Wait – I see her. She's sitting beside Colin Creevey."

James nodded quickly. "Thanks mate," and he rushed off towards the Gryffindor table.

I squinted more my eyes to see who was he going to ask, and I finally saw Colin say something and moving over, letting me spot bright red hair.

"He's going to ask Ginny?" I said. Neville looked over at me like if he hadn't met me before.

"I thought the awkward glances and the long talks between them made it obvious."

Actually, it did.

"Hello," Hermione said happily skidding over at us. That was weird. I had never seen her smile so widely before.

"What's into you?" I asked suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing!" she said cheerfully.

I raised an eyebrow at her, and crossed both arms over my chest.

"Fine!" she snapped. "I was just asked."

And ladies and gentleman, Hermione blushed!

"By whom?" queried Neville.

She said something, but I couldn't hear her. Hermione was mumbling to herself.

"Sorry, I didn't quite hear that?" I put a hand to my ear.

"Viktor Krum."

"Seriously?! That's amazing, Mione!" I said, hugging her.

"It is, isn't it?" she said breathlessly, giggling afterwards.

"Congratulations Hermione!" Neville said.

Then, both looking very red, Ginny and James walked towards us. James was smiling goofily, so I take it that she said yes.

"Are you both alright?" Hermione asked, looking now concerned.

Blushing madly, Ginny nodded.

"Hermione, you're not going to believe what I found," James said. "Is a similar case about the elves' rights you're planning to make true."

"Really?" Hermione then walked with James, both sitting down and talking about how this could help S.P.E.W.

Rolling our eyes (yes, Ginny too), we turned outside and walked off to the Gryffindor Tower.

"Will you go to the ball with me?!" someone screamed. We stopped dead on our tracks.

"Was that -?" Neville started.

"My idiot brother?" Ginny said. Looking at each other, we rounded the corner and saw Ron's back, frozen in fear. Everyone was watching him. And the person he just shouted at was Fleur Delacour. She was standing while looking repulsed. Cedric Diggory was on her side, quite flustered and awkward.

Ginny and I quickly rushed off to each side and, intertwining our arms through his, we dragged Ron backwards before he could embarrass himself more.

I wasn't easy to carry him around. We had to climb a lot of stairs while still dragging him around. It did not help that he was leaning on us just as we grabbed him.

Taking each a turn, Neville changed first with Ginny, then she changed for me and then I changed for Neville.

We did so until we arrived to the Tower.

"Fairy lights," I said to the Fat Lady - the password had been changed the previous day.

Looking like she wanted to laugh at the state of our friend, the Fat Lady did so.

We instantly rushed him off to a near armchair. His face was white as ash, looking very sick. Ron tried to say something, but seemed like he couldn't open his mouth properly.

"I think he just broke himself," I whispered to Ginny. She giggled.

"Oh no!" Neville suddenly groaned. "I forgot my book on Snape's dungeon!"

"You better go for it," I suggested. "He may be capable of not returning it to you."

Nodding, Neville rushed off, almost knocking Harry down. I frowned at him. Harry looked sad and disappointed.

"What's up, Ron?" Harry said as he joined us.

Ron just stared up horrified at Harry.

"Why did I do it?" he asked wildly, gabbing Harry's front robes. "I don't know what made me do it!"

"Wh – what?"

"He- er- just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him," Ginny explained. She looked like she was fighting back a smile. To be honest, I was too.

"You what?"

"I don't know what made me do it!" Ron gasped again. "What was I playing at? There were people- all around- I've gone mad- everyone watching! She was just standing there, talking to Diggory! Something just came over me, and I asked her!"

"Actually, he sort of screamed at her. It was a bit frightening," I told him, smiling sheepishly.

Ron moaned and dropped his head into his hands. He kept talking, but his words were more mumbled.

"She looked at me as if I was some kind of sea slug! Didn't even answer- and then, I dunno- just sort of came to my senses and ran for it!"

"She's part veela," Harry said and we all stared at him. "You were right- her grandmothers one. It wasn't your fault. I bet you just saw her when she putting on the old charm for Diggory. She was wasting her time, though. He's going with Cho."

Ron looked up from his hands.

"I asked her to go with me just now," Harry said dully, "and she told me."

I felt my smile slip off my face.

So... he asked Cho Chang first...?

"This is mad," Ron said. "We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone - well, except Neville."

I glared at them and rolled my eyes. "It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone." I wasn't going to tell them I am that someone.

"What?" said Harry, startled by this news.

"Now I'm really depressed," Ron moaned. "…I mean, who would go with him?" He snorted.

I could feel my eyes burning now, but this time I could really tell they were angry tears.

"Don't!" said Ginny, annoyed. "Don't laugh -"

Just then Hermione climbed in through the portrait hole.

"Why weren't any of you at dinner?" she said, coming over to join us.

"Because-" Ginny started, "-oh shut up laughing, you two—because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!"

Both Harry and Ron shut up.

"Thanks a bunch, Ginny," Ron gloomily said. I sighed.

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?" Hermione said loftily. "Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you."

But Ron was staring at Hermione very strangely, and then he turned to me to do the same.

It was kind of creeping me.

"Hermione – you're a girl," he said. Then he looked over at me. "And Annie is one too!"

"What made you think that?" I hissed sarcastically at him.

"Well spotted," Hermione spat at the same time.

"Well - you can both come with us!"

"No, we can't," Hermione snapped.

"Oh come on," Ron said impatiently, "we need partners, we're going to look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has..."

"We can't go with you," I raised my head, glaring at him. "Because we already are going with someone else!"

"No, you're not!"

"Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted Anya and I are girls!"

Ron stared at her. Then he grinned again.

"Okay, okay, we know you're girls," he said. "That do? Will you both come now?"

"I've already told you, I'm going with someone else!" and Hermione stormed off to the girls dormitory.

"She's lying," Ron said as he watched her go.

"She isn't, neither of them are," Ginny said quietly.

"Who are they going with then?" Ron asked sharply.

"Not telling you, it's their business," Ginny said.

"Right," Ron said, who was looking completely put out, "this is getting stupid. Look, Anne, you go with Harry-"

"Didn't you listen to me, Ron?" I growled. "I already am going with someone else. But even if I still hadn't a date, I wouldn't go with either of you. Not as a last resort!"

Standing angrily, I stormed up to the girl's dormitory.

I snapped shut the door, then went to sit on my bed.

Scrunching my face a little, I grabbed my pillow and started to scream.