The beginning of December brought a chilly air to the castle. The air seemed to be the only cold thing within Hogwarts; students and teachers alike seemed to be radiating warmth; their spirits lifted with the approach of Christmas and the Yule Ball, as Professor McGonagall had informed them in Transfiguration one rainy afternoon.
"The Yull Ball will give everyone the opportunity to socialise with our guests. The Yule Ball is open to fourth year students and above only but you may bring a younger guest if you wish."
Bella and Freya exchanged a look of bewilderment before returning their attention to McGonagall.
"You are all required to wear dress robes -" she continued, ignoring the hushed whispers from Lavender and Parvati at the front of the classroom. "and the ball will begin at 8 o'clock on Christmas Day, finish off at midnight in the Great Hall. Now, I must warn you all -" Professor McGonagall stared hard at every single person in the classroom. "The Yule Ball is a chance for us all to relax and have fun - but that does not mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour that we expect of each and every one of you. I will be most disappointed if a Gryffindor student were to embarrass the school in anyway."
Bella leaned back in her chair, turning to look at Harry and Ron who sat behind her. "She's talking about you and those mouldy old dress robes." Bella teased Ron.
"Shut up." he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Your dress is just as bad."
"You're just jealous I look good in anything and you don't." Bella chuckled at him as the bell sounded above them. There was the usual scuffle of bags and scraping chairs. Professor McGonagall's voice cut above the noise. "Potter - a word, if you please?"
Harry's face dropped and Ron patted his arm with a grimace. They watched Harry trying to push his way through the crowd as they stepped out into the corridor.
"I can't believe mum didn't tell us that this was why we needed dress robes!" Ron cried.
"Well, how could she without telling us about the tournament? It was supposed to be a surprise." Bella replied.
"True." Ron agreed.
"I can't believe we're going to a ball! This is so exciting!" Freya beamed.
"I've never been to a ball before." Emily said.
"Neither have we." Bella added. "Can't imagine you've ever been to a ball either Hermione?"
"No. I haven't." Hermione replied. "I guess it could be quite fun though."
When Harry joined them in the Gryffindor Common Room and informed them of his unfortunate situation regarding the Yule Ball, they couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Oh, Harry." Bella said with a low whistle. "Good luck."
This only caused Ron to laugh harder.
"Ignore them, Harry." Freya replied. "You'll find a date no bother."
"I wish I had your enthusiasm." Harry grumbled.
Over the following few days, the four girls stood back and watched as Ron and Harry bumbled through the corridors, shrinking away from every female they saw. Although, they were all extremely surprised when a young third-year Hufflepuff asked Harry to the ball with her. Harry hurriedly turned her down and he turned a bright shade of red when Ron teased him about it. Another two girls asked him to the ball the following day and Harry again turned them down.
"If you keep turning people down you'll never find a date." Bella chuckled.
"Bella, come on, that last girl was over a foot taller than me!" Harry cried.
"Your loss." Bella teased.
On the last night of term, the Gryffindor Common Room was packed. Fred and George were the loudest of the lot, as usual, and everyone was happy to be done with school for the holidays. Bella, Freya, Emily and Hermione were tucked away in a quiet alcove, the view of the Quidditch field just outside outside of the window, talking animatedly amongst themselves.
"Come on, Hermione. Just tell us." Emily pleaded.
The three girls had been trying all day to persuade Hermione to tell them who had asked her to the Yule Ball.
"It's a surprise!" was the excuse she'd been using all day.
"If anything, Hermione, I'd think you were embarrassed." Bella said, trying another tactic to get her to reveal her secrets.
"I-I am not embarrassed!" Hermione huffed.
"How can we know that if you won't tell us who it is?" Bella continued.
Hermione let out a long, deep sigh and Bella thought she'd maybe pushed her too far.
"Fine." Hermione said. "I'll tell you but you cannot tell anyone!"
"Of course not!" Freya replied, mimicking pulling a zip across her lips.
"Viktor Krum." Hermione said in the quietest voice they had ever heard from her.
"What?" Bella asked, leaning closer to her.
"Viktor Krum." Hermione said a little louder.
"Really?!" Bella cried loudly.
"Keep your voice down!" Hermione hissed, looking wildly around to see if they had gained anyone's attention.
"Sorry." Bella replied. "But, Viktor Krum, that's amazing!"
"Who knew you actually liked Viktor after all?" Emily chuckled.
"I never said I didn't like him." Hermione said sheepishly.
"Hermione -" Freya chuckled. "You've done nothing but complain since he got here about him coming into the library and bringing all those, what was it you called them 'stupid girls' with him?"
Hermione looked embarrassed. "Well, I couldn't concentrate." She added.
"Too busy staring into Viktor's eyes, were you, Hermione?" Bella laughed. ,
"Oh shut up." Hermione chuckled. "Anyway, what about you three? Do you have dates yet?"
"Terry Boot from Ravenclaw asked me this morning." Emily said, a small smile on her face.
"Terry's lovely!" Bella said. "You're going to have a great night!"
"He's handsome, too." Freya chuckled.
"What about you, Freya? Has my brother asked you yet?" Bella asked.
"He has." Freya beamed.
"About time." Hermione teased.
"This is exciting!" Emily squealed. "What about you Bella? Someone has definitely asked you."
"I'm afraid I'm dateless." Bella replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Really?" Freya replied. "I was certain you would have been the first of us to be asked."
"What makes you think that?" Bella chuckled.
"You're the most outgoing." Emily replied as if it was obvious.
"Well, I'm sorry to have to disappoint -" Bella said.
"Er, Bella, can I talk to you?" Harry said before she could finish her sentence. He was standing a few steps away from the alcove they were sitting in and Bella smiled at him before she stood up.
"Of course." Bella replied, following after him as he made his way up the staircase to the boys dorm.
Harry was silent as they climbed the stairs and he wouldn't look Bella in the eye when she sat down on Ron's vacant bed in the dorm.
"Is everything okay?" Bella prompted, leaning forward, trying to get him to look at her.
"I was wondering -" Harry started, wringing his hands awkwardly. "if you want to go to the ball with me?" he muttered quietly.
"What did you say?" Bella asked.
Harry sighed. "Do you want to go to the ball with me?" His voice was still quiet but Bella heard what he said.
Bella chuckled softly and Harry stared sharply at her.
"Are you laughing at me?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"No!" Bella assured him, trying to stifle her smile at his pout. "You just looked so uncomfortable, it was funny."
"It's not funny." Harry sulked, sitting on the edge of his bed with his arms still crossed.
"Harry -" Bella said gently, moving to sit beside him on the bed. "Of course I'll go to the ball with you."
"Really?!" He asked, turning to her with a giant smile.
"Definitely." Bella smiled back.
Harry threw his arms around her neck and pulled her into a tight bear hug.
"Harry, you're going to strangle me." Bella laughed, patting his back for him to let her go.
"Please tell me you know how to dance?" Harry asked as they pulled back from one another.
"Well -" Bella said and Harry sighed deeply.
"Bill and Charlie might have taught me one or two things growing up." Bella added and Harry smiled again.
"You need to stop doing that to me." Harry teased, poking her arm.
"I can't, it's too much fun." Bella smirked.
"Fred and George really are rubbing off on you, aren't they?" Harry said.
"What can I say -" Bella replied, "it's in my blood."