Chapter Thirteen: Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year
On Chirstmas Eve, you would figure that you'd find most people up in their beds, sleeping as sugarplums danced in their heads, or the like. But George Weasley and Leo Lawson aren't most people.
"So you say that the prank site is right above Snape's dungeon?" George asked his partner as they poured their attention on a map of Hogwarts.
"Oh, yes, I'm quite certain," Leo complied with a smug grin. "And believe me, it was a job trying to find it."
"Tell me, how ever did you manage it?"
"Fairly easily, actually. I made a Turtle-Truck Potion and snuck it into an unsuspecting first year's glass during dinner. Then, I followed him, using Potter's invisibility cloak that I, ahem, borrowed," Leo smiled.
"That's it? But why the potion? Couldn't you have followed him without it?"
"Most probably, my dear George, but it wouldn't have been as easy. With the potion, he moved as slow as any box turtle unwittingly, which enabled me to get a stable grasp on the surroundings without losing the guy. Thus, we now know to a T where their ruddy lair abides."
"You know, with your knack with potions, if you weren't a Gryffindor I think Snape would marry you."
"Then thank all that is holy that I'm a Gryffindor," laughed Leo. "Now then, we need to get down all the dirty details of the Operation. This is probably the only time we'll get alone in the Common Room to do this so let's not waste the opportunity, shall we?"
"Oh, I love it when you talk business," Geroge grinned mischievously, which was awarded with a slap on the arm by Leo. "Oh, rough now are we?"
Leo just rolled her eyes, "Let's get on with it." She scrolled down the list of pranks, gags, and other mischief-causing items. "I think we have everything known to man that can be bought at Zonko's. It's time to reveal to you some of my beauties." She took a velvet sack from behind a chair and placed its contents on the coffee table in front of George. His eyes lit up like a kid in a sweet shop, "My Lord in Heaven. What do these amazing things do?"
Leo smiled at his reaction, picking up the first thing and explaining proudly, "These are Sticky Squeaky Singing Sneaker Sheets. Place them on the floor and they become invisible. When someone steps on one, they will be stuck to floor for a period of up to ten minutes. While that doesn't sound all that bad, their shoes will sing in an annoying squeaky voice "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" for ten days. This," she picked up a small vile of clear liquid that looked like a perfume bottle, "is a little invention called Silent But Deadly. Where in this form it lacks smell or detection, once it comes in contact with a human body, it immediately reacts to form a smell that can be best described as rotting cabbage Limburger cheese loaf. Even scrubbing with a Brilo pad won't get the stench off. Those golf ball sized cones are a type of Dungbomb, so to speak, but instead of letting out a nauseating smell, they let out a blinding fog and can be timed to go off when you want it to."
George looked at her in awe, "You are the most wicked person I know."
Leo just blushed, "Nah, these are just some stuff I've invented in my room over the years. Nothing worth goggling over."
"So you say. But I bet Fred would agree that you have to join Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes as soon as possible."
"Weasleys' Wizard what?" Leo raised her eyebrows flabbergasted.
"It's a joke shop Fred and I are going to start as soon as we graduate. We too invent gags, mind you they're mostly of the food variety, but with you as a partner, we'd have the physical gags down solid."
"Sounds awesome! And you really want me to help?"
"Really, Leo, really."
Leo put her arms around George and gave him a grateful hug, "Oh, thanks much! I mean seriously. This is probably the best thing anyone has ever given me."
"Don't mention it," George smiled, looking down at her. "Now before we wrap this up and get some well-needed sleep before it's present time, you didn't tell me what this was," he held up a package of some unsuspicious looking light blue powder.
"Oh that," Leo smiled with a evil twinkle in her eye, "that's my greatest invention to date. I call it Retro Rainbow Dust."
"And what does this dust do?"
"Oh, what's the fun in just telling you. You'll find out soon enough and believe me, the surprise will be worth the wait."
"I hope so. Now off to bed with you," he stood up and helped Leo to her feet. "Happy Christmas by the way." He pointed to the clock, which read 1:30.
"Merry Christmas to you too, George. Don't I get a present?"
"Isn't being a partner in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes enough for you?!" he threw his hands in the air. Leo looked shocked for a second before George gave her a dazzling smile, "Just kidding. Of course you get a present. You need to wait 'till it's at least dawn however. Wouldn't be proper just opening presents whenever you feel like it."
"True, but I'd let you open my present for you," Leo bargained, giving him puppy-dog eyes. "Ah, a tough offer to turn down, but alas, I must do so. Can't be breaking traditions now can we? Now be a good girl and run up to bed and maybe I'll take you to the Ball with me."
Leo turned around and looked at George, "Are you asking me to go with you?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"If you'll say yes or not. If you'll say no, then no, I'm not asking you a thing."
"Well, then," Leo made a big deal of stroking her chin, like it was a tough, thought-provoked decision. "All right, I guess so. Good night, George." And with that, she went upstairs into her dormitory.
George flopped himself down onto the couch once more with a sigh of relief. He didn't know how he was going to pull that one off, but he did. He had come to care for Leo more than anyone else ever before and if she had said no, who knows what that would have done to his insides. But that didn't happen, George thought to himself and a goofy grin crossed his features. He softly whistled "Pretty Girl" as he ascended the stairs to go to bed himself, happily awaiting Christmas like everyone else.
*****
"Happy Christmas Harry!" shouted Ron, shaking him out of a deep slumber. Harry rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with one hand and grabbed his glasses with the other, "Mmm, wha' 'ime is it?"
"Six-thirty on the nose," proclaimed Ron, bouncing off his best friend's bed and on to wake up the other fifth year boys. He was met with groans and pillows to the head everywhere he went. "Ah, come on now, it's Christmas! No time to be violent!"
"Yeah, and six-bleeding-thirty is no time to be awakened either," Seamus groaned, running his hands through his hair.
"Come off it, you guys," Harry said in defense, "I'm pissed as hell too, but at least we've got presents to look forward to."
"Presents? Why didn't you say so, old chap," Dean grinned as he, Neville, and Seamus went downstairs to check what was left for them.
They were presents covering the floor when the boys went down in their robes. When they got to the Common Room, they noticed the girls had beaten them to the tree. Taking cue from the girls, the boys dove in headfirst into the pile, ripping wrappings off as they went.
"Merry Christmas, Harry," Jazz yawned as she sat down next to him, placing the pile of her presents that she gathered by her feet. " Did you sleep well?"
"I suppose so, under the circumstances. If Ron didn't act like the presents would disappear if we didn't unwrap them at dawn, I would have gotten even more sleep!" he replied loudly, shooting Ron an angry look, which just caused his best friend to laugh and throw wrapping paper at him.
"Here, Leo!" announced Fred and George, tossing a present into her lap as she sat in an armchair. She caught it with an "Oomph!" then preceded to open it.
"Guys, you shouldn't have," she said to them, smiling widely. In a box was a prankster's dream: Dungbombs, Belching Powder, Filibuster's Fireworks, a Nose-Biting Teacup, and an assortment of the twins' own inventions, including Ton-Tongue Toffee and Canary Cremes. Also in the box was 'Certificate of Partnership' that George had written up stating that she was an official partner of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which made her immune to all future pranks, that is if she did not prank them first. Leo laughed at that, "You guys are incorrigible, you know."
"Oh, we only hear that from our mum once a month."
"Twice a week."
"Everyday."
Leo again laughed and she gave each of the twins a hug of thanks. As she hugged George, he whispered to her, "You know, if you prank only Fred, you won't be pranked by me. So have at him if you wish." Leo just gave him a look that said, "Oh yeah? He'd kill me!" before moving on to more presents.
As the present opening continued, the floor soon began to look like it was carpeted with red and green paper. The stuff was thrown into every crevice as people were in an unwrapping frenzy. The chaos began to die down about an hour later as the present pile started to diminish. That was the cue for the 'Dynamic Duo' to go into what Ron affectionately called "Combat Mode".
"Um, Jazz, can I see you a moment?" Harry asked, pulling her away from her presents. He pulled her into a quiet corner and gave Ron thumbs up, the sign to do the same with Hermione.
"What's up?" she inquired, giving Harry a curious look.
"Um.that is I want you." Harry shifted around on the balls of his feet, totally nervous. ".Here," he finally said, thrusting a gift into her hands.
As she carefully unwrapped the paper, a velvet box appeared. Jazz opened it and gasped. Inside was a silver charm bracelet that was literally covered in charms already. A few were an unicorn, her favorite animal, a star that flashed teal, her favorite color, and what appeared to be a Chocolate Frog, her favorite candy. Jazz just looked amazed at such a thoughtful gift before replying to Harry.
"Harry, this is beautiful! I mean it's absolutely gorgeous! It has all of my favorite things on it! How did you ever know."
"Let's just say your sister knows a lot about you," Harry smiled. "How 'bout you put it on and see if it fits."
As Jazz lifted the bracelet out of the box, she noticed that a piece of paper was also attached to it. She ripped it off and read it:
Jazz-
I know this isn't the way to ask you, but I think if I asked you in person that I would just make a fool of myself. You know that I care about you, and I was wondering, would you go with me to the Ball? Please?
"Oh Harry!" she wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a tight hug. "I thought you were never going to ask! Of course I'll go!"
She left a very satisfied Harry Potter as she went over to the group once again to show off her gift. She even made a point of hugging her sister for helping Harry with the gift. Leo just grinned and told her, "What are sisters for?" When she went to show Hermione, she was met with a squeal of glee from her best friend. Ron, it seems, had finally gotten over his stubbornness and had asked her to the dance as well. Hermione held up the gift that Ron had given her: a simple silver chain necklace from which a silver heart locket hung. Inside it were pictures of her, Ron, and Harry during their first year at Hogwarts. She just loved it and kept going on and on about it, and of course, Ron as well. Jazz just smiled at her happy friend as she ranted. She knew just how she felt.
*****
Later on that day, Leo, Jazz, and Hermione went up the dormitory. They flopped on Jazz's bed for a gossip.
"So Jazz, I heard from a very reliable source that you have a date to the Ball. Any chance it's a certain raven-haired Seeker, is it?" Leo teased.
"How do you know? I haven't told anyone!" she asked, looking at her sister in a mix of awe and anger.
"Sister's intuition," Leo said vaguely. "Nah, actually George was giving the boy a hard time at breakfast the other day because of his obvious crush on you and I just figured since he looks like he's on Cloud Nine today that he asked you to the Ball and you said yes." She said this very quickly.
"Oh, well now that you know." Jazz sighed. It wasn't that she minded her sister knowing, it was just that she wanted the glory of telling her herself. She decided to turn the tables on her sister. " So, what are we all going to wear with our dates to the Ball?" Jazz questioned innocently, baiting Leo.
"How'd you know about me and George?" Leo raised her eyebrows in astonishment.
"Because you just told us," Jazz laughed in victory.
"Ugh, you got me!" Leo fell over, clutching her chest as if she was shot. The two other girls just laughed and smacked her with a pillow.
*****
Before they knew it, it was already New Year's Eve. The girls began to get ready several hours before seven o'clock, to the disbelief of the guys. All they had to do was take a shower, get dressed and do their hair! How long should that take? However, the guys had to get ready too, and by six-thirty, they were all set and anxious for their dates to arrive. Ron was fiddling with a corner of his brand new bluebell colored dress robes that Fred and George had given him for Christmas, ("Can't have a brother of ours wearing lace in public now, can we?") while Harry, done up in a forest green robe, just paced impatiently. George however, was leaning nonchalantly against the banister of the stairs, wearing midnight blue dress robes, and a look that said, "I may not look nervous on the outside, but bloody hell! I'm about ready to wet myself!"
"C'mon, where in God's name are they?!" Ron threw up his hands at the old grandfather clock, showing them it was six-fifty.
"Keep your knickers on, we're coming!" came a shout from upstairs. Then, Leo descended.
"Holy Hell," muttered George as he looked up at his date. He had never seen her so, well, feminine before. Being a tomboy at heart, Leo's wardrobe consisted of sweatshirts, rugby jerseys, and jeans, when she wasn't in Hogwarts uniform of course. But now, he thought, WOW! She had on a robin's-egg blue robe that seemed to float around her as she walked. A silver necklace complemented her low, but modest, neckline. Her short blonde hair was curled and secured in the back with chopsticks and she wore enough make-up to just enhance her features, not over play them. She walked up to George and winked at him, "You act as if you've never seen a girl before," she teased.
"Never one so.pretty," he sputtered, causing Ron and Harry to giggle at his obvious discomfort. George would have glared at them, but at the time he was too busy staring at Leo and blessing the stars that she was his, if only for tonight. Just then, Ron's object of affection came down the stairs, causing Ron's breath to catch in his chest. Her robes were a light silver color and shimmered in the light of the Common Room. She was wearing the necklace that Ron had given her and had her hair similar to that of the Yule Ball last year.
"You look amazing, Hermione," Ron blushed as she gave him a hug. "So do you, Ron. I like these robes much better than your old ones. Complements your eyes."
"Ok, two down one to go. What's taking Jazz so long?" Harry peeked up the stairway, expecting her any second. Finally she came down. Her dress robe was a color that Harry had never seen before. It appeared black at first, but as she moved it seemed to change to dark red or blue or green, kind of like raven's feathers do. She too was wearing her present, and her hair was swept up in a tight French twist, with two wisps of hair framing her face. Jazz went straight up to Harry and smiled wide. "Was it worth the wait?"
Harry just nodded mutely, at a loss for words. Ron, who had his arm around Hermione and was heading for the door, brought him back into reality.
"Now that the party's complete, let us go to the Ball before it's over, shall we? We're going to miss all the good food!"
*****
As they entered the Great Hall, Leo and George went straight to the dance floor and the rest went and found a table. The four looked around the room in awe. The Hogwarts staff had outdid themselves this time. Big colored lanterns hung suspended in air and, upon further inspection, were lighted by actual fairies. Decorations in every shape and size dotted the room, from giant ice sculptures to tiny pots filled with flowers that sang "Auld Lang Synd" rather off-key. A band of punk-looking wizards that call themselves "Banned From Azkaban" played up-front while the teachers, all decked out in their best, watched the students from afar.
As a slow song came on, or as slow of a song you would expect from a band called "Banned From Azkaban", Ron and Hermione, with Harry and Jazz, got up from their seats and preceded to slow dance.
"So, are you glad you came with me?" Harry whispered into Jazz's ear.
"Absolutely!" Jazz returned looking into his eyes as if to solidify the point.
"You look so pretty tonight. You have to be the most beautiful girl in this room."
"Thanks," Jazz blushed.
"Next to your sister, of course," Harry smiled devilishly.
"Oh, you!" she began lightly pounding her fists into his chest as if in a rage. He grabbed them lightly and tipped her chin up so she was looking at him. Then, smiling, he kissed her.
"Get a room!" Leo hissed at her sister as she and George passed the couple on the dance floor. Harry stopped and blushed furiously at being caught "in-the-act", but Jazz just smiled in her euphoria and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, holding him close as they swayed to the music.
"Speaking of rooms." George whispered to Leo when they were out of earshot of Jazz and Harry. "Don't you think it's time? It's almost eleven- thirty you know."
"Oh right!" Leo grinned in expectation. "You have the supplies?"
"You have the map?"
"Then let's go!" Leo and George linked arms and acted as if they were going outside to the courtyard for some "private time", but instead they abruptly turned left and headed down the corridor at a fast pace.
"It's is just behind there," Leo pointed at a seemingly unsuspicious wall, breathing heavily after running all the way there in her bare feet, high heels long forgotten.
"What?" said George in disbelief. "It's just a wall!"
"Oh, but it's more than meets the eye, watch. Basilisk Blood!" Suddenly the wall, which really was a secret door, opened, revealing stairs going down.
"Wicked! The Slytherin Common Room," George looked at Leo with pride, then speculation. "Wait, how do you know the password?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, you can find out anything with a little persuasion," she did a little shimmy, and laughed.
"You didn't."
"Of course I didn't! I just caused a Slytherin to forget I was a Gryffindor for a second and asked her. There are potions for everything you know."
"As I said before, you're Snape's future wife, I swear," George grinned. "Now, New Year's is in a half an hour, and people might start coming back early. Let's do this quick, let's do this thorough, and most of all, let's do this for future generations of pranksters. Now let's move!" He and Leo climbed down the stairs hand in hand, grinning at what they were about to do.
On Chirstmas Eve, you would figure that you'd find most people up in their beds, sleeping as sugarplums danced in their heads, or the like. But George Weasley and Leo Lawson aren't most people.
"So you say that the prank site is right above Snape's dungeon?" George asked his partner as they poured their attention on a map of Hogwarts.
"Oh, yes, I'm quite certain," Leo complied with a smug grin. "And believe me, it was a job trying to find it."
"Tell me, how ever did you manage it?"
"Fairly easily, actually. I made a Turtle-Truck Potion and snuck it into an unsuspecting first year's glass during dinner. Then, I followed him, using Potter's invisibility cloak that I, ahem, borrowed," Leo smiled.
"That's it? But why the potion? Couldn't you have followed him without it?"
"Most probably, my dear George, but it wouldn't have been as easy. With the potion, he moved as slow as any box turtle unwittingly, which enabled me to get a stable grasp on the surroundings without losing the guy. Thus, we now know to a T where their ruddy lair abides."
"You know, with your knack with potions, if you weren't a Gryffindor I think Snape would marry you."
"Then thank all that is holy that I'm a Gryffindor," laughed Leo. "Now then, we need to get down all the dirty details of the Operation. This is probably the only time we'll get alone in the Common Room to do this so let's not waste the opportunity, shall we?"
"Oh, I love it when you talk business," Geroge grinned mischievously, which was awarded with a slap on the arm by Leo. "Oh, rough now are we?"
Leo just rolled her eyes, "Let's get on with it." She scrolled down the list of pranks, gags, and other mischief-causing items. "I think we have everything known to man that can be bought at Zonko's. It's time to reveal to you some of my beauties." She took a velvet sack from behind a chair and placed its contents on the coffee table in front of George. His eyes lit up like a kid in a sweet shop, "My Lord in Heaven. What do these amazing things do?"
Leo smiled at his reaction, picking up the first thing and explaining proudly, "These are Sticky Squeaky Singing Sneaker Sheets. Place them on the floor and they become invisible. When someone steps on one, they will be stuck to floor for a period of up to ten minutes. While that doesn't sound all that bad, their shoes will sing in an annoying squeaky voice "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" for ten days. This," she picked up a small vile of clear liquid that looked like a perfume bottle, "is a little invention called Silent But Deadly. Where in this form it lacks smell or detection, once it comes in contact with a human body, it immediately reacts to form a smell that can be best described as rotting cabbage Limburger cheese loaf. Even scrubbing with a Brilo pad won't get the stench off. Those golf ball sized cones are a type of Dungbomb, so to speak, but instead of letting out a nauseating smell, they let out a blinding fog and can be timed to go off when you want it to."
George looked at her in awe, "You are the most wicked person I know."
Leo just blushed, "Nah, these are just some stuff I've invented in my room over the years. Nothing worth goggling over."
"So you say. But I bet Fred would agree that you have to join Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes as soon as possible."
"Weasleys' Wizard what?" Leo raised her eyebrows flabbergasted.
"It's a joke shop Fred and I are going to start as soon as we graduate. We too invent gags, mind you they're mostly of the food variety, but with you as a partner, we'd have the physical gags down solid."
"Sounds awesome! And you really want me to help?"
"Really, Leo, really."
Leo put her arms around George and gave him a grateful hug, "Oh, thanks much! I mean seriously. This is probably the best thing anyone has ever given me."
"Don't mention it," George smiled, looking down at her. "Now before we wrap this up and get some well-needed sleep before it's present time, you didn't tell me what this was," he held up a package of some unsuspicious looking light blue powder.
"Oh that," Leo smiled with a evil twinkle in her eye, "that's my greatest invention to date. I call it Retro Rainbow Dust."
"And what does this dust do?"
"Oh, what's the fun in just telling you. You'll find out soon enough and believe me, the surprise will be worth the wait."
"I hope so. Now off to bed with you," he stood up and helped Leo to her feet. "Happy Christmas by the way." He pointed to the clock, which read 1:30.
"Merry Christmas to you too, George. Don't I get a present?"
"Isn't being a partner in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes enough for you?!" he threw his hands in the air. Leo looked shocked for a second before George gave her a dazzling smile, "Just kidding. Of course you get a present. You need to wait 'till it's at least dawn however. Wouldn't be proper just opening presents whenever you feel like it."
"True, but I'd let you open my present for you," Leo bargained, giving him puppy-dog eyes. "Ah, a tough offer to turn down, but alas, I must do so. Can't be breaking traditions now can we? Now be a good girl and run up to bed and maybe I'll take you to the Ball with me."
Leo turned around and looked at George, "Are you asking me to go with you?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"If you'll say yes or not. If you'll say no, then no, I'm not asking you a thing."
"Well, then," Leo made a big deal of stroking her chin, like it was a tough, thought-provoked decision. "All right, I guess so. Good night, George." And with that, she went upstairs into her dormitory.
George flopped himself down onto the couch once more with a sigh of relief. He didn't know how he was going to pull that one off, but he did. He had come to care for Leo more than anyone else ever before and if she had said no, who knows what that would have done to his insides. But that didn't happen, George thought to himself and a goofy grin crossed his features. He softly whistled "Pretty Girl" as he ascended the stairs to go to bed himself, happily awaiting Christmas like everyone else.
*****
"Happy Christmas Harry!" shouted Ron, shaking him out of a deep slumber. Harry rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with one hand and grabbed his glasses with the other, "Mmm, wha' 'ime is it?"
"Six-thirty on the nose," proclaimed Ron, bouncing off his best friend's bed and on to wake up the other fifth year boys. He was met with groans and pillows to the head everywhere he went. "Ah, come on now, it's Christmas! No time to be violent!"
"Yeah, and six-bleeding-thirty is no time to be awakened either," Seamus groaned, running his hands through his hair.
"Come off it, you guys," Harry said in defense, "I'm pissed as hell too, but at least we've got presents to look forward to."
"Presents? Why didn't you say so, old chap," Dean grinned as he, Neville, and Seamus went downstairs to check what was left for them.
They were presents covering the floor when the boys went down in their robes. When they got to the Common Room, they noticed the girls had beaten them to the tree. Taking cue from the girls, the boys dove in headfirst into the pile, ripping wrappings off as they went.
"Merry Christmas, Harry," Jazz yawned as she sat down next to him, placing the pile of her presents that she gathered by her feet. " Did you sleep well?"
"I suppose so, under the circumstances. If Ron didn't act like the presents would disappear if we didn't unwrap them at dawn, I would have gotten even more sleep!" he replied loudly, shooting Ron an angry look, which just caused his best friend to laugh and throw wrapping paper at him.
"Here, Leo!" announced Fred and George, tossing a present into her lap as she sat in an armchair. She caught it with an "Oomph!" then preceded to open it.
"Guys, you shouldn't have," she said to them, smiling widely. In a box was a prankster's dream: Dungbombs, Belching Powder, Filibuster's Fireworks, a Nose-Biting Teacup, and an assortment of the twins' own inventions, including Ton-Tongue Toffee and Canary Cremes. Also in the box was 'Certificate of Partnership' that George had written up stating that she was an official partner of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which made her immune to all future pranks, that is if she did not prank them first. Leo laughed at that, "You guys are incorrigible, you know."
"Oh, we only hear that from our mum once a month."
"Twice a week."
"Everyday."
Leo again laughed and she gave each of the twins a hug of thanks. As she hugged George, he whispered to her, "You know, if you prank only Fred, you won't be pranked by me. So have at him if you wish." Leo just gave him a look that said, "Oh yeah? He'd kill me!" before moving on to more presents.
As the present opening continued, the floor soon began to look like it was carpeted with red and green paper. The stuff was thrown into every crevice as people were in an unwrapping frenzy. The chaos began to die down about an hour later as the present pile started to diminish. That was the cue for the 'Dynamic Duo' to go into what Ron affectionately called "Combat Mode".
"Um, Jazz, can I see you a moment?" Harry asked, pulling her away from her presents. He pulled her into a quiet corner and gave Ron thumbs up, the sign to do the same with Hermione.
"What's up?" she inquired, giving Harry a curious look.
"Um.that is I want you." Harry shifted around on the balls of his feet, totally nervous. ".Here," he finally said, thrusting a gift into her hands.
As she carefully unwrapped the paper, a velvet box appeared. Jazz opened it and gasped. Inside was a silver charm bracelet that was literally covered in charms already. A few were an unicorn, her favorite animal, a star that flashed teal, her favorite color, and what appeared to be a Chocolate Frog, her favorite candy. Jazz just looked amazed at such a thoughtful gift before replying to Harry.
"Harry, this is beautiful! I mean it's absolutely gorgeous! It has all of my favorite things on it! How did you ever know."
"Let's just say your sister knows a lot about you," Harry smiled. "How 'bout you put it on and see if it fits."
As Jazz lifted the bracelet out of the box, she noticed that a piece of paper was also attached to it. She ripped it off and read it:
Jazz-
I know this isn't the way to ask you, but I think if I asked you in person that I would just make a fool of myself. You know that I care about you, and I was wondering, would you go with me to the Ball? Please?
"Oh Harry!" she wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a tight hug. "I thought you were never going to ask! Of course I'll go!"
She left a very satisfied Harry Potter as she went over to the group once again to show off her gift. She even made a point of hugging her sister for helping Harry with the gift. Leo just grinned and told her, "What are sisters for?" When she went to show Hermione, she was met with a squeal of glee from her best friend. Ron, it seems, had finally gotten over his stubbornness and had asked her to the dance as well. Hermione held up the gift that Ron had given her: a simple silver chain necklace from which a silver heart locket hung. Inside it were pictures of her, Ron, and Harry during their first year at Hogwarts. She just loved it and kept going on and on about it, and of course, Ron as well. Jazz just smiled at her happy friend as she ranted. She knew just how she felt.
*****
Later on that day, Leo, Jazz, and Hermione went up the dormitory. They flopped on Jazz's bed for a gossip.
"So Jazz, I heard from a very reliable source that you have a date to the Ball. Any chance it's a certain raven-haired Seeker, is it?" Leo teased.
"How do you know? I haven't told anyone!" she asked, looking at her sister in a mix of awe and anger.
"Sister's intuition," Leo said vaguely. "Nah, actually George was giving the boy a hard time at breakfast the other day because of his obvious crush on you and I just figured since he looks like he's on Cloud Nine today that he asked you to the Ball and you said yes." She said this very quickly.
"Oh, well now that you know." Jazz sighed. It wasn't that she minded her sister knowing, it was just that she wanted the glory of telling her herself. She decided to turn the tables on her sister. " So, what are we all going to wear with our dates to the Ball?" Jazz questioned innocently, baiting Leo.
"How'd you know about me and George?" Leo raised her eyebrows in astonishment.
"Because you just told us," Jazz laughed in victory.
"Ugh, you got me!" Leo fell over, clutching her chest as if she was shot. The two other girls just laughed and smacked her with a pillow.
*****
Before they knew it, it was already New Year's Eve. The girls began to get ready several hours before seven o'clock, to the disbelief of the guys. All they had to do was take a shower, get dressed and do their hair! How long should that take? However, the guys had to get ready too, and by six-thirty, they were all set and anxious for their dates to arrive. Ron was fiddling with a corner of his brand new bluebell colored dress robes that Fred and George had given him for Christmas, ("Can't have a brother of ours wearing lace in public now, can we?") while Harry, done up in a forest green robe, just paced impatiently. George however, was leaning nonchalantly against the banister of the stairs, wearing midnight blue dress robes, and a look that said, "I may not look nervous on the outside, but bloody hell! I'm about ready to wet myself!"
"C'mon, where in God's name are they?!" Ron threw up his hands at the old grandfather clock, showing them it was six-fifty.
"Keep your knickers on, we're coming!" came a shout from upstairs. Then, Leo descended.
"Holy Hell," muttered George as he looked up at his date. He had never seen her so, well, feminine before. Being a tomboy at heart, Leo's wardrobe consisted of sweatshirts, rugby jerseys, and jeans, when she wasn't in Hogwarts uniform of course. But now, he thought, WOW! She had on a robin's-egg blue robe that seemed to float around her as she walked. A silver necklace complemented her low, but modest, neckline. Her short blonde hair was curled and secured in the back with chopsticks and she wore enough make-up to just enhance her features, not over play them. She walked up to George and winked at him, "You act as if you've never seen a girl before," she teased.
"Never one so.pretty," he sputtered, causing Ron and Harry to giggle at his obvious discomfort. George would have glared at them, but at the time he was too busy staring at Leo and blessing the stars that she was his, if only for tonight. Just then, Ron's object of affection came down the stairs, causing Ron's breath to catch in his chest. Her robes were a light silver color and shimmered in the light of the Common Room. She was wearing the necklace that Ron had given her and had her hair similar to that of the Yule Ball last year.
"You look amazing, Hermione," Ron blushed as she gave him a hug. "So do you, Ron. I like these robes much better than your old ones. Complements your eyes."
"Ok, two down one to go. What's taking Jazz so long?" Harry peeked up the stairway, expecting her any second. Finally she came down. Her dress robe was a color that Harry had never seen before. It appeared black at first, but as she moved it seemed to change to dark red or blue or green, kind of like raven's feathers do. She too was wearing her present, and her hair was swept up in a tight French twist, with two wisps of hair framing her face. Jazz went straight up to Harry and smiled wide. "Was it worth the wait?"
Harry just nodded mutely, at a loss for words. Ron, who had his arm around Hermione and was heading for the door, brought him back into reality.
"Now that the party's complete, let us go to the Ball before it's over, shall we? We're going to miss all the good food!"
*****
As they entered the Great Hall, Leo and George went straight to the dance floor and the rest went and found a table. The four looked around the room in awe. The Hogwarts staff had outdid themselves this time. Big colored lanterns hung suspended in air and, upon further inspection, were lighted by actual fairies. Decorations in every shape and size dotted the room, from giant ice sculptures to tiny pots filled with flowers that sang "Auld Lang Synd" rather off-key. A band of punk-looking wizards that call themselves "Banned From Azkaban" played up-front while the teachers, all decked out in their best, watched the students from afar.
As a slow song came on, or as slow of a song you would expect from a band called "Banned From Azkaban", Ron and Hermione, with Harry and Jazz, got up from their seats and preceded to slow dance.
"So, are you glad you came with me?" Harry whispered into Jazz's ear.
"Absolutely!" Jazz returned looking into his eyes as if to solidify the point.
"You look so pretty tonight. You have to be the most beautiful girl in this room."
"Thanks," Jazz blushed.
"Next to your sister, of course," Harry smiled devilishly.
"Oh, you!" she began lightly pounding her fists into his chest as if in a rage. He grabbed them lightly and tipped her chin up so she was looking at him. Then, smiling, he kissed her.
"Get a room!" Leo hissed at her sister as she and George passed the couple on the dance floor. Harry stopped and blushed furiously at being caught "in-the-act", but Jazz just smiled in her euphoria and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, holding him close as they swayed to the music.
"Speaking of rooms." George whispered to Leo when they were out of earshot of Jazz and Harry. "Don't you think it's time? It's almost eleven- thirty you know."
"Oh right!" Leo grinned in expectation. "You have the supplies?"
"You have the map?"
"Then let's go!" Leo and George linked arms and acted as if they were going outside to the courtyard for some "private time", but instead they abruptly turned left and headed down the corridor at a fast pace.
"It's is just behind there," Leo pointed at a seemingly unsuspicious wall, breathing heavily after running all the way there in her bare feet, high heels long forgotten.
"What?" said George in disbelief. "It's just a wall!"
"Oh, but it's more than meets the eye, watch. Basilisk Blood!" Suddenly the wall, which really was a secret door, opened, revealing stairs going down.
"Wicked! The Slytherin Common Room," George looked at Leo with pride, then speculation. "Wait, how do you know the password?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, you can find out anything with a little persuasion," she did a little shimmy, and laughed.
"You didn't."
"Of course I didn't! I just caused a Slytherin to forget I was a Gryffindor for a second and asked her. There are potions for everything you know."
"As I said before, you're Snape's future wife, I swear," George grinned. "Now, New Year's is in a half an hour, and people might start coming back early. Let's do this quick, let's do this thorough, and most of all, let's do this for future generations of pranksters. Now let's move!" He and Leo climbed down the stairs hand in hand, grinning at what they were about to do.