"The Yule Ball is a tradition that has accompanied the Triwizard tournament since its inception. The Headmaster has asked me to ensure that nobody here embarrasses Slytherin House by lounging leisurely like a league of lazy lions, or by engaging in a sloppy and saccharine showing of the swapping of saliva. To that end, you are gathered here to learn how to dance, partner up and we can begin," Professor Snape informed the Slytherin students from fourth year and above.

Almost immediately Daphne Greengrass crossed the room and grabbed Harry on his arm, pulling him over to dance.

"That was quite the display you put on last week, Harry. How did you know it would work?"

"I knew that I can speak Parseltongue and that it extends to dragons, it doesn't matter which type, the main risk was the dragon not listening to me," Harry answered Daphne's question, letting his magic move his body in time to the music. As the groups moved around the room, Harry observed Dudley having to dance with Draco, and Crabbe with Goyle.

"So you had no idea what would happen? I find that answer rather unsatisfactory, but such is life."

The two danced for the whole lesson, talking about the tournament and how Harry would do in the coming events.

Once the lesson was over Harry actually felt really good, maybe the Ice Queen of Slytherin had a heart after all.

/_-_-_-_-/

Dudley had just read the most recent letter from Nora, in which she expressed her shock and horror at what happened to Fleur as well as her joy that Harry had gotten through unscathed. He quickly wrote a response, before returning to his studying of place names and pondering maps of Amesbury. He had narrowed down three areas in which to begin his search, something he would potentially be able to do over Christmas, provided he was able to go home over the holiday.

"I have no reason to attend the Yule Ball, so I might as well go home to visit mom," Dudley explained to Harry when questioned on why he wanted to leave.

"If you go home you can deliver my present by hand," was all he said in reply, happy with his cousin's answer.

He was currently heading to Professor Snape's office in order to write his name down to go home. He was able to do so without any issues and was about to leave when Snape spoke up.

"Your cousin hasn't attended an Occlumency lesson since two days before the first task, if you could remind him I would be most… appreciative." Professor Snape drawled out that last word, clearly unimpressed with Harry.

"Next time I see him I'll tell him."

"You misunderstand me, I'm asking you to use that ring of yours to contact him, I'm worried about his mental health."

"Oh… of course, Professor." Dudley tapped his ring and passed on the message to Harry, who said he would be there later in the day.

/_–––_–––/

"No, Tom, I can't help you right now. I have classes for another four days and then it's Christmas. Wait until then and I'll be able to work on that project of yours," Harry was thinking to himself as he headed to meet Professor Snape in his office.

"I suppose that will have to do, you will do this for me, you'll have a lot of free time ahead of you."

"You can't possess me for days at a time this time around, everyone was suspecting that something was up with me. Do you really want to draw that much attention to yourself?"

"Is that a threat, Harry? You know how I feel about that, perhaps a reminder is in order." The instant Tom's voice left his head, sheer pain followed. It wasn't the worst pain Tom had inflicted, and nothing like what the older version of Voldemort had done, but it was still agony.

When he sat down in Professor Snape's office the pain was still ever-present.

"As per usual I shall be conducting a scan of your brain, to see how well the surgery you had has worked." The two locked eyes and Snape began the scan. After a minute his expression soured, more so than usual, and he ended the scan.

"Have you been experiencing migraines? Or perhaps something worse?"

"No…"

"Don't lie to me, Potter. What has been going on?" Snape cut him off with his demand, causing Harry to become nervous.

"I've been practicing Astral Projection, sir," Harry lied, hoping beyond hope that the professor believed him.

"You're working on… Astral Projection… really? I have to admit, Potter, I wasn't expecting that." Snape sounded genuinely surprised, losing his dungeon bat persona for just a moment.

"I've not made any major strides yet, Professor, but I hope to make progress soon."

"I will be interested to hear how you progress. Now, onto the session."

/_-_-_-/

"Great, why did I have to say that? Now I have to study Astral Projection. I'm such an idiot," Harry thought to himself as he walked back to the common room to go to bed.

"I am inclined to agree with you there Potter, in my younger days I once pursued the knowledge on how to Astral Project, suffice to say there is a reason I didn't follow it through to the end. It's a useless skill," Voldemort's voice sounded through his mind, surprising Harry who was used to hearing Tom's voice only.

"I don't think I have a choice anyway. If I don't learn it then Professor Snape may associate the psychic damage with my scar and make the connection that you and Tom are able to communicate telepathically with me."

"So… you're using this as an excuse to encourage me not to psychically discipline you? How very Slytherin." Voldemort laughed before leaving Harry's mind.

/_-_-^-^_/

Two weeks before the Yule Ball saw Harry returning from trying to ask Hermione to the Ball, only to be told to leave her alone. He was a bit bitter about her attitude, she had been like this all year, and was walking around dejected when he was stopped by the sound of his name being shouted.

"Do you always make people chase after you or are you lost in thought?" Daphne teased him, causing him to blush with embarrassment.

"Oh sorry, I was somewhere else entirely."

"Quite. So, I've been waiting for you to ask me, but clearly, that's going nowhere. Will you go to the Ball with me?" She just came out and said it, not being one to mince words when she didn't have to.

"Urm… ah… uh…" Harry tried to reply, his stuttering causing Daphne to laugh.

"I haven't heard stuttering that bad since Professor Quirrell," she added before laughing again.

"What I meant to say is…" he cut himself off there, initially intending to decline, but changing his mind.

"Yes, Daphne. I would love to go to the Yule Ball with you," Harry answered once she had finished laughing entirely.

"Fantastic, you will be wearing something with emerald green and black. Our outfits have to go together after all."

"Sure. I can do that." He smiled and they bid each other goodbye.

It wasn't until he was out on the grounds that he realised that he didn't own any formal clothing.