"Hey Hermione," Ron called out to her on the school grounds. Ron, Hermione and Harry had just come back from visiting Hagrid and there was some fresh snow on the ground.

As Hermione turned around Ron threw the snowball, he was concealing behind his back, at her. Hermione got a devilish look in her eye and picked up some snow.

"You wouldn't," Ron told her. She started to compact it into a ball and he said, "You would never do that." She raised it up high and Ron replied, "You don't have the guts."

Hermione smiled and flung it at Ron, hitting him right in the face. He wiped off the snow and said, "Oh, this means war."

Ron and Hermione started throwing snowballs at each other, until Ron said, "Wait, stop. This is bad."

Hermione looked at him curiously and Ron answered her unasked question, "We leaving Harry out."

Hermione and Ron both threw their snowballs at Harry whose only choice was to defend his self. After several snowballs were thrown, and the all were chilled to the bone, they decide to stop and go inside. As they were heading up the stairs, they saw papers along the floor and Kyla and Seamus picking them. They didn't hear what they were talking about, but they heard Kyla giggle.

When Kyla giggled, something flared up inside of Ron. He wasn't sure if it was protectiveness or if it was jealousy, but he knew he didn't like Seamus with Kyla. Hermione noticed the change in his mood, which also changed her mood as well. Harry was the first one to speak. "Hey guys."

Seamus and Kyla looked up at the trio. Kyla smiled slightly at them, while Seamus's mouth gaped open, wait for something to come out of it. Kyla gathered up the rest of her papers and waved bye, more to Seamus then anyone else. Then she head off in the direction of the library.

Seamus straightened himself out and said, "I was just on my way to do Prefect duty. Bye."

Then he also left in a great hurry, leaving the three of them very suspicious.

While Hermione was at Prefect duty, Ron and Harry were helping each other with their homework. Only their help was giving each other the answers. Ron started looking through his papers and said, "I know I've got the notes somewhere. Oh, there up on my bed. Give me a sec."

Ron headed up stairs to his dormitory and once he was outside the door he heard Seamus say, "Kyla totally likes me."

"O'Connor? You think she likes you?" Dean asked, laughter hinted in his voice. "You couldn't pay her enough to even talk to you."

"We had a moment earlier," Seamus informed them all.

"But did you ask her out yet?" Neville asked

"Well, technically no," Seamus said.

"Better soon," Dean warned him. "I've heard Ron fancies her."

"How can her?" Seamus asked. "He has Hermione. And, he doesn't know about the ball."

"Ball? What ball?" Neville asked worried.

"The one in three weeks," Seamus told them. "I over heard some teachers talking about. Once the announcement is made, I'm asking Kyla."

"I would advise you not to," Dean said. "Ron might get mad."

"So?" Seamus shrugged off the thought. "Anyways, I don't think it's any of his business what Kyla and I are going to do during and after the dance."

Ron stormed in and punched Seamus in his jaw. Seamus staggered back and said, "Ow, bloody hell Ron."

"Stay the hell away from her," Ron yelled.

"Jesus Ron what are you, her body guard?" Seamus asked.

"Keep away from her," Ron spat at him.

"And if I don't?" Seamus asked.

"I'll kick your-" Ron started.

"What if she agrees?" Seamus asked.

Ron's face dropped. His face turned from angry to daze. It dawned on Ron that Kyla could actually want to go out with Seamus. He shook himself back into reality and told Seamus, "Just stay away from her."

"Only if she says no," Seamus told him smugly.

Ron flung another fist at Seamus again. Seamus regained himself and fought back. Ron and Seamus were rolling on the ground, throwing random punches at each other. Harry came up to see what all the noise was about. Once he saw Ron, Harry pulled Ron off of Seamus, while Dean held Seamus back. Ron shook himself out of Harry's hold and shot a warning glance at Seamus before he headed downstairs.

That Friday, Dumbledore made an announcement at dinner. "As some of you I am sure already know, we will be hosting a ball. It will be fifth years and up. The date is New Year's Eve and can be, if you are up to the challenge, a masquerade ball. There will be a Hogsmeade trip in a week to pick up any supplies. That is all."

There was murmur as soon as Dumbledore sat down. Hermione looked hopefully at Ron who was watching Kyla. Kyla looked unaffected by the news and was staring down at her plate. She let out a sigh and looked up. She noticed Ron watching her and she shifted guiltily under his gaze. Then she noticed Seamus also watching her. She smiled uneasily at him and then turned her attention back to her plate. Seamus smiled and nudged Dean nodding towards Kyla. Dean rolled his eyes, but didn't say a word. Ron shot daggers at Seamus, who looked around innocently.

When Kyla got up, so did Seamus, which lead Ron to stand up also. Kyla looked at the two suspiciously and then started walking away. Ron and Seamus followed her, always trying to be a step or two ahead of each other. Finally Seamus caught up with Kyla and greeted her, "Hi Kyla."

Ron was right behind Seamus. When Seamus saw Ron open his mouth, he asked the same question, at the same time, as Ron, "Will you go to the dance with me?"

Kyla looked shock at the suggestion and looked from Ron to Seamus. She looked regretfully at both of them and said, in a remorseful tone, "No."

Then she walked away quickly. Seamus glared at Ron and said, "You freaked her out."

"I think you freaked her out more," Ron told him.

Seamus vented and walked away to the Gryffindor common room. Ron walked off in the same direction that Kyla had. Ron found her a little way down, sitting on the floor with her back to the wall. She was taking deep breaths and ran a hand through her hair. Ron sat down next to her and asked, "Are you ok?"

Kyla nodded and Ron asked, "Are you sure?" Kyla nodded and shifted her body away from him. Ron frowned and asked, "Is something bothering you?"

"No, y tú?" Kyla asked.

"Uh, no nothing's bothering me," Ron lied. "Well there is something. Did you have any control over the laws passed?"

Kyla shook her head and Ron relaxed. Ron smiled at her and asked, "So you do you want to go to the dance?"

Kyla shrugged and answered, "No."

"Why not?" Ron asked.

"Err, tú debes ir con Hermione," Kyla suggested.

"Me go with Hermione?" Ron asked with a laugh. "I don't think that would work."

Kyla shrugged and the two of them just sat there for a while. Eventually Ron said, "Well, I guess we better go now. Are we ok?"

Kyla smiled and nodded. Ron smiled back at her and said, "Great."

"Kyla, you sure you don't want to come to Hogsmeade with us?" Ron asked her, right before they were supposed to leave.

Kyla nodded and waved goodbye to them. She head up to her bed, for what she hope was some peaceful sleep. However, her hope was not granted.

"Kyla, you can't look that bad," Trevor called out to her. He was lying on her bed flipping threw a magazine, while Kyla was in the bathroom changing into different dresses.

"Oh, you would not believe this dress," Kyla called out to him.

"Let me see," Trevor said, slightly amused.

Kyla came out in a yellow fluffy dress. It had a scooping neckline and lots of bows. Trevor grabbed one of Kyla's pillows and started laughing in it. Kyla started laughing also and said, "Thanks for your support."

Kyla went back in the bathroom to change. Trevor got a hold of his laughter and said, "Kyla, that was a Mary Hick of a dress if I ever seen one. You looked as though you were trying to be the sun."

"Oh shut up," Kyla told him.

"Where did you go gurring of to this afternoon?" Trevor asked.

"Around, the flicks, you know," Kyla said vaguely.

"You're not going to even tell me where you go? I'm the one who helps you sneak out," Trevor said, in a mocking hurt voice. Then he eyed her suspiciously, "You aren't a hoor, are you?"

"No you plonker. Feck off," Kyla said, surprised and angry.

"I was just messing," Trevor told her with a smile.

"Ok, I'm coming out, don't laugh," Kyla told him. She came out in a long, creamy yellow dress that fitted her body. She did a spin for him and asked, "How do I look?"

"Like a scrubber," Trevor told her, not looking up from the magazine. Kyla coughed and Trevor looked up. He smiled and said, "Sound."

Kyla smiled and asked, "You like this one?"

"Why isn't Jonathan doing this with you?" Trevor asked, forcing himself to look away.

"They think it's bad luck for us see each other a day before anything," Kyla explained.

"Well, I got to go," Trevor told her. "Don't get shlossed tonight and go with the last one."

"Um, Trevor," Kyla hesitated.

"Kyla, you look great," Trevor told her and then left.

Kyla woke up, and stared at her ceiling fighting back the urge to cry.


A/N: ok, I googled for some Irish slang, so if some words seem wrong, they very well could be. thanks for reviewing everyone! and eckles, that conversation gives me an idea! can't wait to write about that! next chapter, the ball! yeah!