YULE BALL TO BE HELD ON CHRISTMAS EVE

On December 24 a Yule Ball will be held in the Great Hall for students in the fourth year and above. Dress robes are required. If you are planning to remain in the school for the ball you must sign up on the sheet posted at the end of the Entrance Hall. You must sign the sheet by December the 20th.

Happy Holidays

Deputy Headmistress

Minerva McGonagall

Ginny read this on the Griffindor notice board the next morning. Oh dear, she thought, I spose I'll have to stay. At least I'll be closer to Tom.

"So" a voice said from over her shoulder"We gonna go"

She turned to see Harry reading over her shoulder.

"Yeah." she sighed and looped an arm backwards around his neck and kissed him upside down.

He spun her around and pressed his lips harder aginst hers and they heard a cough from behind them. They broke apart and saw Ron. He looked uncomfortable even though months ago he had approved their relationship.

"Ron" Ginny exclaimed and forced herself to blush. Harry hugged her tightly, his arms wrapped around her from behind.

"So are you going, Ron" Harry asked.

"Yeah" Hermione came up to join them"You might want to ask someone before someone else does this time." her voice held a hint of bitterness.

Ron nodded, not really catching the sarcasm in this suggestion.

"We should go to breakfast" Harry said"Hogsmeade today."

The other three nodded and they walked down to the Great Hall.

§§§§§

"It won't hurt too much, Ginevra." Tom's voice rang through the chamber"Stand in the water."

Ginny waded slowly into the knee deep pool of water near the statue of slytherin at the end of the Chamber. It stung a bit, Probably remnants of the Basilisk, she thought. Once she was in the center of the pool she turned to face Draco, who stood tall at the opposite end of the Chamber, waiting to be called upon. He didn't wait that long.

"Malfoy" Tom's voice was calm, as always, but Ginny could hear some excitement hidden benaith it"If you would kindly perform the task I explained to you earlier."

Draco took a deep breath. He waded into the water after Ginny. He put a hand at the base of her neck and held it tightly, almost nervously as he reached into his robes to his belt. Ginny gasped as she saw the dagger clasped in his hand drew from its sheath.

AN:Hello! did evreryone suddenly decide"Hey let's annoy and offend Carol by hating her story and not reviewing! Woot" not fun, people! it's working, I'm offended! please put a small review if you care at all.