Chapter 8: The Dancing Task
Chapter 8: The Dancing Task

It was now November, and Jason and Martha got used to the eerie nightmares they have once in a while. The amount of schoolwork for a fifth year was tremendous so the Hufflepuffs had to worry about anything else.

One cold November day in the Hufflepuff common room, the head of the house, Professor Sprout, a cheerful lady announced, "We will have our annual Hufflepuff Autumn Ball next Friday. It will be held in our common room. Also, if you have any music that you would want to contribute to the dance, you may do so. Muggle music can also be played if you wish."

The Hufflepuffs cheered. Jason looked over at Martha. She was also looking at him, smiling. Oh, that smile always melted Jason, he felt weak all over. It's funny how a girl can make a guy feel so weak. Jason blushed and turned his head towards Professor Sprout.

After the announcement, Martha was swarmed by her girl friends giggling about the ball. Peter walked over to Jason and teased, "Hey, you gonna hit on that Martha girl?"

"What makes you think.. think that I will ask her?" Jason asked blushing and laughing at the same time.

"You're always with her, come on, we're not all stupid, the whole school knows your little secret."

"Um, okay, well, just to disprove your secret, go ask her," said Jason as he walked to his dormitory to do homework.

Dumb! Dumb! Thought Jason. What if Peter really did ask Martha? He didn't even think before he said that. He didn't want to school to know. Martha was for himself. I'm growing so selfish, thought Jason, but he couldn't help it. Jason smacked himself with his palm. I'm so stupid! thought Jason.

Jason had a dream about going to the ball with Martha that night, he finally had a good night's sleep and woke up wishing that his dream was true.

Throughout that next week, Jason wanted to ask Martha to go with him, but her girl friends was constantly surrounding her so he ask her. Finally, on a Saturday morning , Jason saw Martha alone in the common room.

"What's up?" asked Martha.

"Just got up. And you?" asked Jason.

"You wanna play some tennis?" asked Martha.

"We can't, no court."

"See this book?" said Martha as she held up a shiny book, "It's a new book from the library, it's called Spells to Make Muggle Objects. And I figured out how to make a tennis court, so get dressed and I'll meet you next to the Quidittch field in ten minutes."

Jason smiled and walked up to his room to get his racket. Did Martha do this so she can ask me out? Jason asked himself.

His grin was even bigger when he saw Martha on the grass field. She was lovely. A gentle breeze made her brown hair sway. Martha pulled out her wand, she said a few things that Jason couldn't catch. Suddenly, the grass was turned into a tennis court. She also transfuged a few rocks to be tennis balls.

"Not bad," applauded Jason, "Actually, this is awesome!"

They started to hit a little. Then, Martha hit a fast ball towards Jason, his racket made contact with the ball, but the ball went out. Out? In all this time, the ball never went out before. He shook his head in disbelief. Jason took out his want, pointed at the tennis ball laying on the ground and yelled, "Accio tennis ball!"

The ball flew into Jason's hand. He smiled, this was allot better than going to pick up balls. They played a while and decided that was enough tennis for one day.

Jason and Martha walked down to the lake for a little walk. Feeling very nervous, Jason cleared his throat and asked, "Look I was wondering.... D..d..do you w..want to go to the bball wit...with me?'

Martha looked very sad and answered, "Oh, Jason, how can I forget! I'm so sorry! Peter asked me yesterday, and I just couldn't bear to put him down, I'm so sorry! I really want to go with you.. but I promised Peter!"

Jason patted Martha on the back, he was mad at himself. It just happened that he told Peter to ask Martha to the dance. "It's okay," Jason said.

Jason lay awake that night thinking about how stupid he is.

The next morning, Peter greeted Jason and said, "I asked her like you told me to."

"Yes, good job," Jason said trying to look happy for Peter, "She told me yesterday"

"You want to go with her don't you?"

"Huh?"

"I mean you look so sad, if you really want to go with her, I mean I know she'll love to go with you, I can go with Susan instead."

"No it's okay."

"You sure?"

"Yea, I'm fine."

Peter's so nice, thought Jason, but I guess he deserves her. I don't deserve her, heck, I'm never even been kissed by a girl. Well, that time with Samantha was different. Jason then thought about that incident with Samantha. He learned that there was a spell called the Memory Charm from Harry Potter. Harry said that it could wipe out the memory of a certain time. But why would anyone want to put a Memory Charm on some Muggle? Ah, she was probably drunk, thought Jason.

The next Monday, Jason had gotten desperate. The ball was on Friday and Jason still didn't have a date. He'll look so silly. Jason thought that he should just go up to one of the girls and ask them.

Without thinking, Jason saw Jasmine Huang coming out of her dorm. Jason greeted the very cute girl. She had curly black hair and blue eyes. Jason never saw someone with blue eyes and black hair, and he thought this looked very good on her. Nevertheless, Jason still thought Martha was prettier, too bad she was going with Jason.

"Hi Jasmine."

"Hey."

"Look, I don't have anyone to go with me to the dance, will you go with me?" asked Jason.

"Sure," she smiled.

They talked a little walking down to breakfast in the Great Hall.

Jason sat down with Jasmine. Peter, Martha, Susan, Hannah, Ernie (this chubby fifth year Hufflepuff), and some other fifth years were already there.

When Jason and Martha was walking to class, Martha suddenly whispered, "So I guess Jasmine is the lucky girl huh?"

"How'd you know?"

"I know," Martha laughed, "So how far you wanna go with her?"

"You sicko!" cried Jason.

"Hey, I mean you had your chance with Samantha a few months ago. You probably regret it so you'll want to do it with Jasmine..."

Jason punched Martha lightly on the arm.

"You don't hit a girl," laughed Martha as she slapped Jason playfully on the arm.

"Who said you were a girl?" asked Jason laughing.

"Then you must be gay!" teased Martha.

"Hey, who said I was gay?"

"Well you asked me to the dance, and since you think I'm a guy, you must be homosexual," answered Martha playfully.

"Oh shut up, you win!" Jason gave in. Then he blushed and thought, well I guess maybe she does like me, no she doesn't how can she like me, what am I thinking.... I mean she's flirting with me; I was just so stupid with Peter... but then again, how can she ever like me? I'm not even an experienced wizard like Peter.

Jason was so excited on Friday, he never went to a dance with a girl before. He had danced with girls before, but this is different. This is actually a date. He told himself that if he were to have fun that day, he should forget about Martha and have with Jasmine. Jason tried very hard to do that, but on the back of his mind, he's still thinking about "his" Martha.

Around six, Jason went to take a bath and get dressed for the ball. He put on his dark blue robe that he got in Diagon Alley. Jason remembered how he got that robe and shook his head. Jason pulled out his trunk from underneath his four-poster bed and opened the compartment with his Muggle stuff in it.

Jason took out a bottle of cologne he brought with him and put some on him. He combed his hair and walked out the door. He looked over at the girl's dormitory. Girls take so long to get dressed! Jason just paced around the room for he was very nervous.

"Yo Frek! Calm down!" said Ernie.

"Ye, its no need to be so nervous," stated Peter.

"It's just that I've never been to a wizard ball before," Jason replied.

"You'll be fine," said Ernie.

Finally, the girls appeared. He first looked over at Martha. He was so astonished on how beautiful she looked. Her smooth brown hair was tied in a very cute bun. Her red shiny dress robe really brought out her figure. Jason blushed as he found himself staring at her bosom. He thought her face was the prettiest face he ever saw. Just then, Peter walked over to her and led her down the stairs to the common room where the ball was held.

Jason gave a sigh and walked over to Jasmine. She didn't look bad either. Jasmine had long black hair that was down to her waist and she had wonderful eyes. Jason forced himself to forget about Martha and focus on Jasmine.

"You look gorgeous," smiled Jason.

"You too," smiled Jasmine as she locked her arm with Jason's.

After a wonderful buffet in the common room, the ball started. Jason led Jasmine onto the dance floor. Jason put his hands around her waist as she put hers around his neck. Jason slowly led Jasmine, careful not to step on her toes. He was very nervous at first, but soon Jason got the hang of it.

"You smell nice," complemented Jasmine while they were dancing.

"Thanks," blushed Jason. Jason thought that he was very prone to blushing for some reason.

"What is it?"

"It's called cologne, it's a Muggle thing. It's sort of like perfume, except it's for a guy. And you smell nice too." Jason felt his cheek turning redder.

"Ah, it's only my shampoo," Jasmine turned red as well. Jason had lots of fun dancing with Jasmine as they went though slow songs and fast songs. They even did a few swirls. However, ever so often Jason would look over at Martha and Peter and he would feel angry and very jealous. Jasmine helped a little, but he so wanted to be with Martha.

Then, he looked over to Professor Sprout. She was dancing to some man he never saw before. The man was looking right at Martha and then he would stare at Jason for a while. Odd, thought Jason, probably some man who's curious about the place.

"Jason, I know," said Jasmine. Jason was surprised by Jasmine talking as he was intently looking at that man. That man had familiar eyes...

"Know what?"

"That you really didn't want to come to the dance with me."

Jason stuttered, "Huh? No. I mean... of course I do..."

"It's okay Jason, I know, you like Martha."

"How did you know?"

"Well when we dance, you're never really looking at me, you're always looking at her direction, and I see you two always talking and stuff."

"Well, we're good friends."

"I know, and she likes you too, she told me... but it's just that..."

"Just that what?" asked Jason curiously?

"ItsjustthatIlikeyoutoo." blurted Jasmine.

"Huh?"

"I like you, Jason," said Jasmine, and she quickly turned scarlet.

This took Jason by surprised. A girl actually told him that she liked him? This never happened before! But then again... Jason looked over at Martha again; she was having such a great time!

When he looked back at Jasmine, she looked crestfallen and said, "You don't like me do you?"

"Well, you're my friend, and I definably like you as a person, it's just that, well, you know."

"I understand."

"Let's just have fun tonight and not worry about this alright?" answered Jason, trying to cheer Jasmine up.

The ball ended around midnight and everyone was tired. Jasmine pecked Jason on the cheek and ran off to her room. Jason walked up to his room. He had lots of fun and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Author's Note: I am sorry but I may have to finish this story after tennis camp which is in two weeks, I am so sorry my readers, BUT I may be able to finish it before I go. Please review!