The last lesson of the they had ended as the bell rang across the corridors of the castle. But before that, all the students had been inform about the Yule Ball, a traditional part of the Tri-wizards tournament, and of course that's when the dress robes come in. But sadly, Percy didn't had one - yet. And as a champion, Percy must have a partner to the dance, which mean totally humiliation for him, but being one has it perk - as it turned out, Percy found out that most of the teachers let him off with some home works, all except for Snape.

And now, because of the Yule Ball approaching, everywhere Percy goes, girls keep giggling at his sight, making all nervous and sweaty, before he keep his head down and walking away.

And of course suggestions were made by Annabeth, that he has nothing to be worried about and just man up and asked somebody to go with him.

And some girls had even tried their luck and asked Percy to go them to the Ball, but Percy refuses politely, said he already had a girl in his mind, but just afraid to ask, before they seemed a little angry and storm away.

After the first task, everyone seemed to take Harry and Percy more seriously, and all the badges seemed all gone. But Mayfoy still quoting the article about Percy and Harry whenever he can, but that doesn't matter cause Hagrid had has an interview with Rita Skeeter, but his name never appeared on the Daily Prophet.

"She didn' seem very int'rested in magical creatures, ter tell yeh the truth," Hagrid said, as Harry, Ron, Percy and Hermione asked him about the interview. And Hagrid had also given up on contact Rita to their relief.

"She jus' wanted me ter talk about you, Harry" Hagrid continued. And although Percy was glad that he is no longer Rita's target, he was still kinna sorry because now Harry is gonna take it all."Well, I told her we'd been friends since I went ter fetch yeh from the Dursleys. 'Never had to tell him off in four years?' she said. 'Never played you up in lessons, has he?' I told her no, an she didn' seem happy at all. Yeh'd think she wanted me to say yeh were horrible, Harry."

"'Course she did," said Harry. "She can't keep writing about what a tragic little hero I am, it'll get boring."

"Well lucky for you to say," said Percy. "I'm now like the school - bad boy or something."

"She wants a new angle, Hagrid," said Ron. "You were supposed to say Harry's a mad delinquent!"

"But he's not!" said Hagrid, looked kind of shock.

"She should've interviewed Snape," said Harry grimly. "He'd give her the goods on me any day. 'He has been crossing lines ever since he first arrived at this school...'"

"Said that, did he?" said Hagrid.

"Yeah, about Harry and i." said Percy.

"Well, yeh might've bent a few rules. Bu' yeh're all righ' really, aren' you?"

"Cheers, Hagrid," said Harry, grinning.

"You coming to this ball thing on Christmas Day, Hagrid?" said Ron.

"With Madame Maxime?" added Percy dramatically.

"I - uh - i -" rambling on Hagrid, blush slightly before talked about something else making Percy laughed. "You'll be openin the dancin', won yeh? Who're you takin'?"

"No one, yet," said Harry, blushes slightly.

"Same." added Percy.

And rumors had been flying around about the Ball, like how Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta, orbooked the Weird Sisters. But who were the Weird Sisters are Percy had no ideal. 'Wizard and their weird name.' Percy thought.

Even when in class, the teachers didn't even want to teach since their mind was on something else. But some still making them work as usual, like Professor McGonagall, Moody or Binns, and of course Snape, with homework even when it's Christmas.

"Evil, he is," Ron said as the four in the common room that night, with quills and parchment."Springing a test on us on the last day. Ruining the last bit of term with a whole load of studying."

"Mmm...you're not exactly straining yourself, though, are you?"said Hermione, not even looking up from her notes as Annabeth returned from the library.

"It's Christmas, Hermione," said Harry lazily.

"Hey." she called, sit down next to Percy. "You notice something weird? People keep staring at me."

"No - nothing." said Percy.

"It's must be about the Ball." said Hermione.

"The Ball?" asked Annabeth.

"Yeah, the Yule Ball this Christmas," answered Hermione. "Each champion must have a dance partner."

"So Percy is gonna dance?" said Annabeth, and Percy knows where this is going to. "Oh - i don't think Percy is a very good dancer."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"Oh, we danced before." said Percy. "A few years back, right?"

Annabeth nodded.

"And he stumbled on my foot the whole time before we had to leave." said Annabeth, chuckled, causing a few glances and blushing.

"Hey, i was thirteen you know." defended Percy. "And beside, i think we have more important matter to take care."

"Like what?" Harry said as he watched some Quidditch.

"That egg!" Hermione hissed.

"Well - i was gonna say finding a dance partner but that - yeah." said Percy.

"Come on, we've got till February the twenty-fourth," Harry said.

The golden egg was still there in Percy's trunk, while Annabeth tried to figure out what is the second task is about.

"But it might take weeks to work it out!" said Hermione. "You're going to look a real idiot if everyone else knows what the next task is and you don't!"

"Leave him alone, Hermione, he's earned a bit of a break," said Ron, pleaded the last two cards on the top of the castle and the whole blew up, burned his eyebrows.

"Nice look, Ron...go well with your dress robes, that will." Fred and George were in the far corner of the room, commented.

"Dress robes?" asked Annabeth again.

"Yeah, must wear at the Yule Ball," said Percy. "but still didn't have mine."

"Well you should get one," said Annabeth. "It's almost time."

"Yeah i know i know," said Percy. "Mom says she already had some help, and it's gonna arrive at the day of the ball."

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

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

"Angelina," said Fred promptly.

"What?" said Ron. "You've already asked her?"

"Good point," said Fred."Oi! Angelina!"

Angelina looked over at him.

"What?" she called back.

"Want to come to the ball with me?"

She gave Fred a sort of look.

"All right, then," she said, then back with her friend, with a grin on her face.

"Well that was easy." commented Percy as Ron frozed before the twins left the common room.

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

Harry was right, and this maybe his chance.

"A pair of...what, excuse me?" said Hermione.

"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!"

"Her nose is off-center," said Ron.

"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," said Ron.

"So i think you should ask Annabeth to the dance." joked Percy.

"Well for your information," said Annabeth. "I'm not going to that dance."

"I'm going to bed," Hermione snapped then swept off toward the staircase of the girl dormitory. And soon Annabeth was gone too.

Both the students from Dumbstrang and Beauxbatons seemed very impress about the Hogwarts staff so far, and with Christmas coming, they determined to take it even further. After the decoration was finished, everyone was stunned. But Percy still hadn't asked her, and Harry still hadn't asked Cho.

"I suppose there's always Moaning Myrtle," Harry said gloomily.

"Harry - we've just got to grit our teeth and do it, all of us." said Ron."When we get back to the common room tonight, we'll all have partners, okay?"

"Er...okay," said Harry, and Percy nodded along.

But every time Percy had a glimpse of her, he slightly blushes before dashes away and leaving her no chance of speaking to him. So when Percy was at the common room, Ron was there too, but horror seemed to filled his eyes. Then Harry was right by his side, looked at Ron.

"Hey Ron." said Percy, unsure of what happened.

Then looked at the two.

"Why did I do it?" he said wildly. "I don't know what made me do it!

"What?" said Harry.

"He - er - just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him," said Ginny, tried to hold back a smile and the same time, tried to comfort her brother.

"No!" said Percy, disbelieve.

"You what?' said Harry.

"I don't know what made me do it!" Ron gasped. "What was I playing at? There were people - all around - I've gone mad - everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall - she was standing there talking to Diggory - and it sort of came over me - and I asked her!"

Ron face palm himself, groaning.

"She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn't even answer. And then - I dunno - I just sort of came to my senses and ran for it."

"She's part veela," said Harry. "You were right - her grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked past when she was turning on the old charm for Diggory and got a blast of it - but she was wasting her time. He's going with Cho Chang."

Ron looked up.

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

"This is mad," said Ron. "We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone - well, except Neville. Hey - guess who he asked? Hermione!"

"What?" screamed Percy. "No! No! he can't do that."

"Why?" asked Ginny.

"Uhm - nothing - nothing - i mean he can totally do that." said Percy.

But then Hermione climbed through the portrait with Annabeth.

"Why weren't you guys at dinner?" asked Hermione.

"Because - oh shut up laughing, you two - because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!" said Ginny, pointed to Harry and Ron.

"Thanks a bunch, Ginny," said Ron sourly.

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

Percy now was on the couch, tried to gathered everything he's got and ask, at the same time listen to the conversation.

"You now some guys asked me to the dance." said Annabeth proudly.

"I think some is an understatement," said Ginny. "Loads of guys asked Annabeth, in the library, the corridors, even some Dumbstrang guys asked her."

The three boys looked in disbelieve.

"So what do you say?" Asked Percy.

"I refused of course" said Annabeth. "I'm not here for this stupid dance you know."

"Well this 'stupid dance' is killing me right now." said Percy, making an 'air quote' gesture.

Ron still didn't said a thing, but then Parvati appeared in the common room.

"Wait here," Harry said to Ron and Percy. "Parvati? Will you go to the ball with me?"

And she giggles.

"Yes, all right then," she said finally.

"Thanks," said Harry, in relief. "Lavender - will you go with Ron?"

"She's going with Seamus," said Parvati.

"Can't you think of anyone who'd go with Ron?" Harry asked, desperately.

"Well..." said Parvati slowly, "I suppose my sister might...Padma, you know...in Ravenclaw. I'll ask her if you like."

"And do you can think of anybody want to go with Percy?" asked Harry.

Parvati looked at Percy, blushes slightly, but then shook her head slowly, making him kind of disappointed.

"Sorry." said Harry.

"Nah, it's okay," replied Percy. "I'll think of something."

So Harry and Ron headed up to the dorm, leaving Percy, Hermione and Annabeth behind. After a while just sitting their, looking at a blank wall, Percy spoke, give every things he got. 'Just ask her out, it's just a normal question, nothing to be scare.' Percy told himself mentally.

"Hey Hermione, i was meaning to ask you-" he paused. "Uhm -"

"Yes?" Said Hermione.

"Uhm - uh - do you - " rambling Percy as Hermione seemed to expect something from him.

"Do you know anyone who want to go to the Ball with me?" Said Percy, mentally face palm himself.

"Wh-what?" Said Hermione.

"I mean -" said Percy, but get interrupted by Hermione.

"No." said Hermione.

"Uhm…What?"

"I'm sorry Percy, i didn't mean to be so blunt." answered Hermione. "Someone else already asked me, and i said yes, so i'm sorry."

Then she was off to the girl dormitory, while Percy just sad there, shocked. And it was Annabeth who had to get him out of that daze.

"Come on, get up," said Annabeth. "I'll go to the dance with you."

"You will," Said Percy, still shocked from what he just heard. "I know what i said, but you're my friend."

"Thanks," said Percy. "You're a great friend."

"Yes i am," replied Annabeth. "And you're still such a seaweed brain."

"Hey, one last thing," said Percy. "Do you know who Hermione going with?"

"I think you just have to wait and see Percy." replied Annabeth.