(A/N - Part 13, "Twist"! And up a tad more promptly than the last. ^^; )

"Marielle, will you go with me to the... no, that's not right..." Harry threw his head into his hands in exasperation and sat down on his bed. "What am I even thinking? She can't come to the Ball; it'll ruin her secret..."

Harry looked up, startled. The door burst open, and Ron, glowing a radiant shade of red, but smiling broadly, strolled in. Upon seeing Harry, he quickly slowed his step to a halt and put his grin away, looking very conspicuous indeed. Harry eyed him curiously.

"Ron...?"

"What? Oh, well I... uh, er... huh?"

"What, did a Cheering Charm just wear off? What's the deal?"

"Well, uh... I, er... Hermione asked me to the Ball." Harry's jaw dropped.

"I didn't know you had a thing for Herm--"

"Shh! Well, I just kinda said yes because I knew M-- the girl I like was taken. Besides, me and Hermione have been talking lately... it turns out there IS more on her mind than the O.W.L.S... she's cooler than we give her credit for sometimes, you know?"

"Yeah... guess so." Harry hesitated, and then spoke. "Can I ask your advice on something? It has to do with Marielle..." A flicker of emotion crossed Ron's face.

"Mari?"

"See, I need a date to the Yule Ball and everything..." Ron finished his thoughts for him.

"Go single. You don't want to blow her cover."

"Well, okay..." Harry didn't sound convinced.

"Just make an appearance, mate. For an hour." Ron tried to hide a mischievous grin. "I've just had an idea..."

~~~

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "So you want to give Marielle and Harry a romantic dinner in the Common Room during the Yule Ball? And just how do you think you're going to pull this off?"

"You've forgotten who my twin brothers are, haven't you? I'll just tell Fred and George Harry's having a girl up here, and they'll be so entertained they'll do the rest. It's not like anyone will come up here... and if they do, I know of a particularly clever witch that is capable of some repelling charms..." Ron gave Hermione his best attempt at a sad puppy face.

"Oh, all right, all right!" She sighed. "I have to give it to you, Ron. This is a pretty great idea for a prat like you."

"Prat, eh? I'll show you prat!"

~~~

The night of the Yule Ball approached, and the boy's dormitory was having a field day in getting ready. Ron, who was busy setting up Harry's dinner, had to throw on his robes at the last minute. Seamus Finnigan took on the role of seamstress/hairdresser because he had been ready in his sky blue dress robes an hour before the rest.

"Oh, Ron, this colour looks astonishing on you, darling!" Seamus gushed in a fake New York accent, commenting on Ron's deep violet robes (Harry's secret present to him). Seamus wasn't wrong, either -- Ron looked very becoming in such a hue, adding depth to his chocolate brown eyes. Seamus ran a comb through Ron's hair, and pushed him out with a wink.

"Your date is waiting... go get her!" Ron rolled his eyes and stepped out. Neville shrieked.

"I've lost Ginny's corsage!" Dean Thomas massaged his temples.

"It's on your wrist, mate..." Neville looked down.

"Heh... so it is..." Harry silently promised himself to give Ginny one painless dance in his short time there, remembering the sores on her feet after going with Neville to last year's ball.

Dean checked his watch and waved Seamus away from his head, who was attempting to give him cornrows.

"STOP IT, Seamus... it's getting late, Parvati will be expecting me. Let's go, men!"

Harry attempted to flatten down his bangs in uneasiness. Apprehension filled him as an hour began ticking away.

~~~

Harry's highlight of the hour turned out to be seeing the completely awestruck look on Ron's face as Hermione descended the stairs in her magnificent blue robes, sparkling and floaty. This year her hair was down in a wave, shiny locks falling across her shoulders. Mouth hanging open, Ron extended his hand to her, blushing a shameless colour of scarlet. Hermione glanced an amused look at Harry, smiled, and took Ron's hand, pinking slightly as she touched him.

As they walked to the entrance hall, Hermione whispered to Harry.

"Mari's up in my dorm, waiting. I left it open, and you do still remember how to activate the Repelshield I put up, right?"

"Yeah.." Hermione smiled, and followed Ron in.

Harry sat alone at a table, where he stayed all hour, except for one dance with Ginny. He watched couples dance and listened to Celestina Warbeck croon love songs. I wish Marielle was here to see this with me...

A flash of royal blue awoke Harry from his reverie. He looked up and saw Cho Chang smiling a sweet smile down at him. Cho looked absolutely gorgeous in flattering robes and a translucent shawl around her bare shoulders. Harry went temporarily speechless. He remembered what he saw in Cho Chang.

"Want to dance, Harry?" He blinked. Marielle...

"Uh..."

"Great!" She took his hand and led him to the dance floor. No! My hour is almost up! Mari is waiting for me!

But they had already begun to waltz. Harry and Cho passed Ron and Hermione; the latter couple giving Harry confused, wary stares. Harry replied with a look that said, "I tried to say no!" Luckily, the song was a short one, and Harry quickly disengaged from Cho's arms.

But Cho wouldn't give up so easily. She gave him a curious, innocent stare.

"Where are you going, Harry?" Harry glanced at his watch. Nine fifteen! Already a quarter hour late! Harry couldn't speak, so deep was his remorse.

"Dormitory... have to..." Harry spat out. Cho smiled deviously, getting the devastatingly wrong idea about what Harry had to do in a dormitory. She took his arm again.

"Okay, we can be alone..."

"Wha..?" But Cho had already attached herself again, leading him towards the stairs.

~~~

Marielle began to panic. He's a quarter hour late... was he serious about this? I should go see... She slipped the Invisibility Cloak on and hurried soundlessly down the stairs when she heard the portrait door swing open, and saw Harry, arm in arm with no other than Cho Chang.

Mari froze in horror. She was paralyzed with grief and rage. She could neither speak nor move away. She was trapped, suffering slowly as she watched Cho plant butterfly kisses all over Harry's cheeks and neck, sinking down into the couch. She was too paralyzed to see that Harry was putting up a fight, too deaf to hear Harry say, "No, no! You have to leave, Cho... no..."

(A/N - Should I stop here and leave you all in agony? D Not to worry, Part 14 will be up soon...)