AN:All thanks given to Katherine my beta.

I own nothing

The library was peacefully empty. Mia picked her usual table and wrote a quick note in her Message Book for Gabe, just in case he got bored celebrating with the Ravenclaws. She grabbed her old trusty book 'Every Potions Ingredient Known and How to Use it: At Least the Ones the Ministry Lets You Know About' and spread out her potions recipes and notes for the Animagus potion, the Wolfsbane potion, and her failed secret potions project. She started going line by line through each potion taking notes as she went. Somewhere in here was a clue to what had gone wrong with her last attempt, and she was set on finding it.

Someone moved through the shelves to the left and Mia turned to see Viktor lurking around a shelf. Mia gave him a little wave and he paused, then walked over as if on unsure feet. "Why aren't you off celebrating with the rest of your school?"

Viktor shrugged his big shoulders but didn't meet her eyes. "Not really my thing."

"Well I can relate to that, but how did you manage to escape?"

Viktor smiled just slightly, a small upturn to his mouth. "That is easy. I frown and grunt that I need alone time to contemplate my thoughts. Everyone starts apologizing and I flee."

Mia laughed. "Are you working on your mermaid clue then?"

Viktor frowned. "Mer-maid?" He fumbled over the word. "I do not know this word."

"Yeah, you know, half person half fish, lives in the lake? Has a loud screeching voice when it's not under water?"

Viktor's eyes went up as if he was realizing something. "Morska sirena," he said in a language Mia didn't know.

Mia got a sinking feeling. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that?"

Viktor smiled big and bright, it lit up his face. "No, I do not think you should have, but I thank you." He bowed. "Tell me, do you know vere your friend is? Hermy-own?"

Mia chuckled. "It's Her-my-oh-nee. I think she's up celebrating with Harry."

Viktor was frowning again. "Hermy-own-nee. Are her and Harry…" He trailed off looking uncomfortable.

"They're friends," Mia said quickly. "Like brother and sister. She is very much single."

Viktor smiled again, not the huge, a force like the sun smile, but a small one that was mostly in the eyes. He bowed again. "I am in your debt," he said before he turned.

Behind him was Gabe, his own book bag over his shoulder. He frowned at Viktor as he passed. Mia was surprised to note that Gabe was nearly as tall as Viktor, and based on the way he ate at meals he still wasn't done growing. The thought made her smile softly as her friend sat in the chair next to her. Viktor made his way towards the back of the library.

"What was that about?" Gabe asked.

Mia sighed. "I think I just accidentally helped him with the second task."

"What?!"

Mia explained about the mermaid comment. "Pounce likes chasing after them when they sun themselves on the edge of the lake. The noise they make isn't something you can forget."

"And now the Durmstrang champion has a leg up on the competition," Gabe said disgusted.

"It's not my fault, I wasn't thinking."

"Right, because he's just so impressive I'm sure all thought leaves your mind and you just tell him anything he wants to hear. No wonder you've been spending so much time in the library."

Mia frowned. Had he just implied she was into Viktor? Anger built in her chest and she started packing up her papers. Gabe didn't say a word as she stormed out of the library. She would take her work out to the quidditch pitch. It was empty with quidditch being canceled this year. The cold air did little to cool her anger. She couldn't believe Gabe would accuse her of helping Viktor because she liked him. What did it even matter if she did? Gabe and her were just friends, weren't they? If he wanted to be more, he would have said something by now. Instead, it was always just left up to her to explain they weren't in a relationship when people made comments or she needed to diffuse the situation between Sirius and him.

That night she told Hermione what she had told Viktor. She would know if it was right to tell Harry, and anyone else. Mia could at least even out the wrongs she had committed.

Thursday during Transfiguration Professor McGonagall ended the class with a reminder about the Yule Ball. Parvati and Lavender giggled nonstop and most of the boys seemed to be more unsure. Mia had to admit, it did seem like it would be fun, but the whole thing seemed like too much of a distraction. If she went home she could spend the time working on her secret potions project. McGonagall referenced dancing and general merriment, and Gabe sighed next to Mia and slouched in his seat. She wasn't sure what he was so upset about. He could still go, and would probably have dozens of dance partners. Mia saw the fifth year Ravenclaw girl, Marietta in her mind's eye, and a sick feeling filled her chest. She promptly pushed it away as the bell rang and they headed for dinner.

Gabe joined her at the Gryffindor table, and as if summoned by her negative thoughts, Marietta and Cho stopped by to say hi to Gabe. Harry sitting nearby choked on his pumpkin juice when Cho said hi to him.

Marietta turned to Mia with a big fake smile. "So Mia, what are you planning on wearing to the Yule Ball?"

"I'm not going," she said shortly as an owl flew into the hall, a large book like package tied to its leg. The owl landed gracefully right in front of her and Mia smiled.

"Oh, that's such a shame!" Marietta said. "Gabe, whoever will you go with now?" she said as though it was a given Gabe would be going with Mia. It's not like they were a couple. She untied the package and thanked the owl as it flew off. The letter on the top of the package was addressed to Mia Bell, in Sirius' messy handwriting.

"Uh," Gabe stammered. "I hadn't really thought about it."

"Well, you should. There are a lot of great girls, even right in your own house who I'm sure would be honored to go with you."

Mia set the letter aside and ripped open the paper a little more forcefully than she wanted. It was an old book, the binding cracking, but clearly written was Falco Aesalon. Sirius had come through.

"Yeah, I dunno. I will have to think about it," Gabe said cryptically as Mia opened the letter and started reading. She had to read the first line a few times as Marietta and Cho left.

"That's just not fair," Ron said. "You don't even have to ask to get one to go with you. Harry, how are we gonna manage that?"

Harry just shook his head, a desperate look on his face. "Speak for yourself. You don't even need a date. I have to open the bloody ball with one of them." He looked at Ron with a panicked look. "Dance. With one of them. What the bloody hell am I gonna do?"

Ron pat his friend on the back sympathetically. "So who you gonna go with Gabe? Sounds like you have your pick."

She had only read the first part of Sirius' letter, the part where he insisted she stay for the Ball, and her chest was filled with uncomfortable pressure. "Yeah Gabe, you should just ask Marietta and get it over with. That way you won't be swarmed with all the girls every break and meal till Christmas." The words just fell out, and Mia didn't know how to take them back.

"Well, maybe I will," Gabe said. Mia felt a stabbing pain in her chest and picked up her book and letter.

"Good!" She headed off to the library to read her new book. She re-read Sirius' letter as she went.

Mia Bell,

Don't be stupid kid, stay at Hogwarts for the Ball. It will be way more fun than spending it here with us old men. Maybe I will take Moony and we can go on holiday. Somewhere sunny.

I picked up your expensive banned book for you. Forgive me, I had to give it a read. Tell me, were you interested in the weird reference to werewolves, or the author's colorful sex life? Please tell me it's the werewolves. I really don't want to know what you and your wolf boy get up to. Maybe it's irresponsible of me, but there are some things a father is just better off not knowing.

Thank you again for your potions this month. If it's getting in the way of your school work, I can find somewhere to buy the bloody Wolfsbane potion, and the chocolate magic you send me, I'm sure I can find someone else to brew it. It's not worth your grades.

Don't think for a moment Moony and I haven't noticed your letters have been stunningly empty of any personal details. Where are the pranks? Where's the rule breaking? Instead, you write about getting legal with the ministry, and about Harry's chaos with the tournament, and write asking for a book. Can you at least try and break a rule for me before Christmas break?

Always yours, loving and approving, and not wanting to hear about your sex life,

Dad

Mia laughed out loud at the signature, and hurried to the library to read the book. She wanted to know what was so bad as to make Sirius hope she was researching about werewolves. She sat in a chair opposite of Hermione and started reading the memoir.

"Mia."

Mia jumped and closed the book quickly as if to hide the text she was reading. She looked up to see Hermione staring at her. "What?"

"What on earth are you reading?"

"Uhhh, what do you mean?"

"Well, your face is bright red and you keep giggling."

Mia set down the book and put the back of her hand against her cheek. It was hot. She looked up at Hermione guiltily. "You don't want to know."

Hermione set down her quill. "Well, now I really want to know.

A tall sullen form approached over Hermione's shoulder, and the girl sat up straight as if knowing what was coming.

Viktor approached the table and bowed. "Sorry to interrupt. Hermy-own-nee, vould you mind taking a valk vith me?"

Hermione sighed and picked up her quill again as if she would keep writing. "If you need help finding a book, Madam Pince would be happy to help."

"But you are so much quicker at it than she is," Viktor said with a small grin. "And so much better at telling me ven I am being stupid."

"Oh fine," Hermione set down her quill again and stood up stomping down a row of shelves. Viktor grinned brilliantly and winked at Mia as he followed.

Seeing them made Mia's heart hurt. She had been stupid with Gabe. It had hurt her to hear him considering asking someone else, and now he probably had asked Marietta. Reading the shocking contents of the book had made her forget, but now it had all comeback. Mia opened the book back up and skipped a few pages until the author was no longer using words that made her blush. She couldn't believe Sirius had read this and still sent it to her. She would have to explain about her research. It was the only way she could look him in the eyes ever again.

Skipping a few more pages, Mia found it. The author was referencing the original potion that had caused the original potions master to develop lupinism. Mia got out her notes and started writing. A few minutes later Hermione fell back into her chair. She wasn't moving. Mia looked up and saw her friend staring blankly, her eyes wide and her cheeks pink.

"What happened?" Mia asked.

Hermione blinked. "He asked me to be his partner at the Yule Ball." Hermione's eyes focused on Mia, and her shock turned to something else as she saw Mia was grinning fiercely.

"Tell me you said yes."

Hermione started giggling. After a few minutes of uncontrollable giggling as Mia enjoyed the moment with Hermione, Hermione stopped and looked around. "Why did he ask me?" she asked with a hint of panic.

"Probably because you're really pretty, and maybe because you don't treat him like some god. I bet he likes that."

Hermione shook her head and covered her face. "Oh, I wish you were going to be here!"

"Well actually," Mia started. She explained that Sirius didn't want her missing it. "But I don't even have a dress yet."

"Oh, that's easy enough to fix. Lavender has order forms in the dorm. Oh, you and Gabe will be so cute!"

Mia sighed and flopped back in her chair. "He's probably already asked someone else." Mia felt stupid, but she explained about her argument in the great hall.

Hermione frowned. "Well, if he does ask someone else, it will only be his loss. Come on, let's go look at dresses."

Lavender did have a catalog, filled with dresses that were ten times better than anything she had seen in Diagon Alley. She was debating between one that was a light blue silk something, with ruffles and a pretty shall, or one that was midnight blue satin around the neckline, dotted with star like crystals, and faded to a pale blue at the hem.

"I say go with the ombre one. The neckline will really show off your girls," Lavender said, looking at Mia's choices.

Parvati nodded emphatically. "You're lucky you have something to show off, and now is the time."

Mia blushed. "But McGonagall said she didn't want us to embarrass her."

"Oh honey," Lavender put a hand on Mia's leg like they were old friends. "She wasn't talking about cleavage."

It was expensive but Sirius was always going on and on about how she never bought anything other than books and potion ingredients. He'd be happy to know she bought something as silly as a frilly dress right? Especially if he knew how indecent it was. The thought made Mia grin and she filled out the papers.

AN: How is everyone holding up? I hope this bit of fluff helped make the day better for everyone. Review and tell me your feelings, reviews brighten my day and make everything 100% better.