Disclaimer: Anything belonging to JK Rowling does. (If I owned HP then Sirius would be mine!)

Chapter 5: The Announcement

The first week of school passed quickly, on Saturday morning Professor Dumbledore made an exiting announcement.

"May I have your attention for just one moment before you begin eating?" Professor Dumbledore asked the students. "On Halloween, for the first time ever, Hogwarts will have a ball that first, second, and third years will be able to attend. It will begin at seven. Please come dressed in a costume. That is all." As soon as he sat down the Great Hall was filled with eager chatter.

"Blimey, first year have never been able to attend a ball!" Damian said.

"Allison, I just realized, we can have dates!" Chelsea squeaked. She gave Robby Wood a hopeful look.

"Don't get your hopes up. Robby is probably going to go with Wetalu. He has been eyeing her all week." Damian told Chelsea.

"Well, I don't think that having a date is that important. Why don't we all go in a group?" Allison asked.

"No one goes in a group! It isnt cool. If no one asks me I won't go at all." Chelsea declared, finishing off her porridge. "Now, who wants to go down to the Quidditch pitch and practice flying? Madame Hooch said that she will be there to help us. Quidditch tryouts are in two weeks."

"Can we join you?" Ryan and Calvin had walked up to the Gryffindor table.

"Sure. I have never flown before. I can't wait." Allison said. As they walked down Chelsea told them stories of how she flew with her brothers and sisters when she was younger. When they arrived the Asian girl named Ramona was already down there.

"Hello. I'm Mona Davies." She waved brightly.

"Hi. I'm Chelsea Weasley. This is Damian Wood, this is Ryan Finnigan, Calvin Malfoy, and my cousin, Allison Potter." Chelsea told her.

"My mum knew your dad." Mona said to Allison.

"What is your mum's name?" Allison asked.

"Cho. Her surname was Chang before she married my dad."

"I have heard of her! My Uncle Ron told me that my dad used to fancy her." Allison laughed. "We could have been sisters."

Mona giggled. "That is funny. Well, mum and dad want me to make the Quidditch team, so I had better practice some more." With that she pushed off the ground and sped up.

"That girl can fly!" Damian said in awe.

"I think someone has got a crush!" Ryan laughed.

"Do not!" Damian turned red.

"You do so! You should ask her to the dance! I bet she will say yes." Chelsea said. Damian didn't respond. He just grabbed an extra boom and shot off into the sky. Chelsea and Ryan followed him.

"Do you have any pointers for me?" Allison asked Calvin.

"Er.... It's really simple. Just get on push off. Either you are good or horrible. Try once like we practiced in class." He told her. Allison mounted and pushed against the ground. She sped up, her stomach leaping. She zoomed toward the goal posts, tossing and imaginary quaffle toward them. It was exhilarating. The wind rushed through her hair as she raced toward Calvin, who was also flying around the posts.

"Brilliant! Ruddy brilliant!" She called to him.

"You are a natural!" He called back. They stayed at the pitch all day, zipping around. Only when the sky started to darken did the group return the common room.

Chelsea, Allison, Frank and Damian decided to gather in the Gryffindor common room each night and help each other with their homework. Each night someone new seemed to join them until half of the people in the common room were part of the 'homework group', everyone from the first years to the seventh years. Chelsea's siblings Jerry, Tessa, and Charlie came along with Lily and James. Jonas showed up with his close friend Toby Jordan, Angie's older brother. Saturday night the group had a hard time concentrating, due to the announcement of the ball. Only a few actually did their work.

"Oy, Allison, can you help me with my potions essay? I have eleven of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, but I can't seem to find the last." Frank called to Allison, who was sitting next to Angie, gossiping about a Ravenclaw second year.

Allison stood up and walked over to him. "Ok, let me see your essay." She scanned the parchment and told him "Frank! You have all twelve! See, right here is the last one. Why did you really call me over?"

"Because he wanted to get close to you!" Jonas shouted. A few people laughed.

"Shut it. I thought I had eleven. Allison, do you want to take a walk? I have to talk to you." Frank stood and followed Allison out of the common room, trying to ignore the catcalls coming from Jonas and his friends. They walked silently down the gardens when Frank turned to her. "What do you think about Ryan?" Allison looked surprised at this question. "See, he really fancies you and he made me promise to ask you. Just don't tell him that I told you that because he said not to. He wants to ask you to the ball."

She tried to choose her words carefully. "Well, I never really thought about it. I mean, he is very nice, but he is a good friend. I don't know him well enough yet. I suppose I would say yes, if he asked me to the ball."

"All right. Thank you for being truthful." He looked at the time. "We had better get back. We don't want to be caught outside after curfew." The made their way back to the common room. Surprisingly, it was almost empty. Only Lily, Toby, and Jonas were still up. Frank said goodnight and went to bed.

"Chelsea said to tell you that she is tired and she went to sleep." Lily informed Allison. "I'm going to bed also. Night." She disappeared through the door to the girl's dorms.

Allison went over by the fire where her things were laid out. She sat down to finish off her potions essay. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Jonas telling Toby to go on up to bed. When Toby left Jonas walked over and sat down next to Allison.

"What did lover boy want?" He asked.

"Lover boy? I don't have a lover boy. Even if I did, that is none of your concern." She replied, pretending to read her essay.

Jonas laughed. "Fine, have it your way. What did Longbottom want?"

"Like I said, its none of your business." She was having trouble concentrating so she started to pack up her books.

"Who are you going to the ball with?" Jonas asked, giving her a arrogant smile.

"No one, yet. I presume you are going with Sandy?"

"Actually, no. We split up last night. She met some bloke from Beauxbatons over the holidays and decided she liked him better." He explained.

"I'm sorry." She told him, not sounding sorry at all.

"Since you aren't going to the ball with anyone, how about you go with me?" He asked her. She was surprised to hear a hint of shyness in his voice.

"Er... alright then." She nodded to him.

Jonas stretched and yawned. "Well, I'm off to bed. See you at breakfast, I hope." He stood and walked up to his dorm. Allison smiled and went to bed.

A/N: I just realized that in some of my chapter I wrote Dylan instead of Damian. Sorry. I went back and changed it. Oh, in my story they allow anyone to try out for Quidditch teams. They "changed" the rules after Harry left school. I know this chappy is good but please be patient. I am studying for my SAT. It takes a lot of y time. I take it monday. Wish me luck...

I would love a beta reader!