Aly yawned loudly and shook her head as the bell rang. She gathered her things, stood up, and exited Professor McGonagall's classroom, waving to Amanda as she headed in the opposite direction. She finally had a free period, so she decided to head up to the common room.

She opened her planner as she walked down the hallway, which suddenly became quiet. She heard someone's footsteps at the other end of the hallway, but was too concerned with the fact that she had a paper due tomorrow that she didn't even know about.

She heard a faintly familiar chuckle and looked up. It was Char, and he was walking to his next class. She smiled faintly at him.

"Hey, love," he grinned, winking slowly. "Lookin' forward to our date tonight." His brown eyes twinkled.

Aly's eyebrows rose and practically disappeared behind her bangs. She looked at Char as he started walking past her. "Er...yeah...me too."

Char turned and walked backwards. "Good. Great Hall at eight?"

"Er...yeah, sure," Aly stuttered.

"See you then, love," Char said, winking again. He turned around and walked forward. Aly stopped and stared after him.

Is it just me...or are his hips...?

Char turned around and grinned at her again. He winked.

Weird.

--

"Let's go," Hayden sighed as the clock struck seven.

"Do we have to?" Michael groaned.

"Yes," Damien sighed, rolling his eyes. "We can't stand them up."

A few hours later Char was attempting to tie his tie. Hayden walked into the dormitory, laughing. "Did you see Ron's robes? They look like a dress!"

"Really?" Char asked, uninterested. He turned to Hayden. "I feel so sorry for him."

Hayden eyed Char's robes. "Nice color."

"Mum picked them out," Char said proudly. His robes were a navy blue. "I guess me and Aly will be matching colors."

"Looking forward to your date?" Hayden asked, fixing his hair.

"Sure."

"Don't even try it, Boyle," Hayden grinned. "You've been waiting for this for a long time."

--

"They're just fashionably late," Hayden said casually. "All girls do that." They were leaning on the wall next to the Great Hall with everyone else. Some Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students made magnificent entrances with carriages. Hayden turned around and grinned. Aly wore a deep, sea blue dress that shimmered in the light, made of floaty material. She wore a matching brooch and pearl earrings. Her makeup was soft and natural. Her hair was wavy, fanned out over her shoulders. Hayden took her hand and spun her around lightly. "Ms. Trevelyan, you look lovely," he said.

Aly blushed. "Thanks."

Hayden jerked his thumb behind him. "Why don't you go find your date," he said, and then looking over her shoulder, "And I'll find mine?"

Aly spotted Char talking to a few guys next to the water fountain. Aly approached them slowly. One of the boys looked over Char's shoulder and his mouth dropped. Char looked over his shoulder and did a double take. "Aly?" She merely raised an eyebrow.

The boys left. "Hey, love," he smiled. "I didn't even recognize you." Then he laughed breathlessly.

"Well?" Aly breathed, flushing from his stare.

"You look beautiful," Char said sincerely, taking her hand and spinning her around. "Absolutely beautiful, Aly." He smiled again. He took out a corsage and put it on her wrist. Then he sighed, smiling crookedly. "Really, you do."

"I think that's a bit over the top," Aly said shyly.

"Hm..." Char mused. "I don't." Aly laughed.

"You did well yourself, Char."

Char's robes were a deep navy blue, with a matching tie. His brown eyes seemed to be warmer than usual. The only issue was his hair...

"If only you'd comb your hair," Aly said with annoyance, reaching up to smooth it down.

"Hey!" Char laughed, grabbing her arm and pulling it down. "It looks better all messy anyway. He intertwined his hands with hers. Aly looked down at their hands in surprise, and then back at Char. He was still grinning crookedly.

"What?"

"You're holding my hand...and you still haven't let go," Char teased.

"You took my hand," Aly retorted.

"I don't remember doing that."

"You're so weird!" Aly laughed. Char laughed with her.

They walked over to their friends and continued chatting for a few minutes, waving to a few of their friends every now and then. Hayden and Kylie joined them a few moments later.

Kylie looked over Aly's shoulder and gaped. Damien and Bella came down the stairs. Damien wore light blue robes, contrary to Char's. Bella, however, wore a light lavender colored dress that followed her every curve, and her blond hair was flowing down her back, with cascading waves. Bella grinned at Aly as they approached the group.

"Bells, you look awesome," Hayden said with a grin.

"Doesn't she?" Damien agreed. He bent down and whispered something in her ear. Bella blushed furiously.

"Look," Hayden said pointing, "There's Michael and Amanda."

Michael wore his Durmstrang uniform.

Amanda wore a blue dress with lace and sapphires, her hair tied into an elegant bun at the back of her head. She scanned the crowd for her friends.

The first person she saw was Damien. Their eyes met for a moment, and they both looked wistful. Damien blinked and forced a smile. As the couple approached, Damien smiled politely.

"Amanda, you look nice," he said.

"Thank you," she said, just as polite.

Amanda smiled slightly at Aly, who searched her eyes for any sort of emotion. The doors suddenly banged open and the crowd rushed in eagerly. Char extended his right arm.

"Shall we?"

Aly grinned and they swept into the ballroom.