Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters

A/N: WEE I'm on a roll! Gwen where are you when I need your input? lol. you know what I noticed? chap eleven of book one is the Yule Ball and chap 18 of this second book is the Yule Ball.. I guess this book will end up being longer. lol.

Chapter 18: Yuletide

I am joyous beyond belief! Not only did I pass every single one of my mid-terms, but I am eligible to take the E.Y.P program! The drawback is the fact that after vacation is the test. However, I'm so prepared to take them! Hermione is one of the others to take it, but I'm not sure yet who else is taking them. Not only am I happy for the test situation, but tonight is the Yule Ball!

My first mission of the day is to visit Hagrid, whom I haven't seen in quite awhile. He welcomed me into the hut gladly as he poured me some cocoa. If I ever get extremely fat, I will blame Hagrid's extra chocolately cocoa.

"You have a dress for tonight?" Hagrid asked me curiously.

After sipping on the hot drink, I said, "Yes. Hermione and I designed our own with my sewing machine. I have a few extra things to tweak on mine, but other than that it's perfectly great."

True, I made my own dress yet again, but this time I dragged Hermione with me into the world of sewing for yourself. Her dress was pink, like cotton candy, flowing to her knees where lace was layered until it reached a few inches above her ankles. A lacey, pink flower resided on the top, left side, which accented the sleeveless appearance.

My dress, on the other hand, was lavender. I had gotten the fabric from Hagrid, for he seems to like buying me fabric now and then. The dress bunched up near my abs and stomach, and then dropped normally down to my ankles. Seeing as mine was strapless as well, I added purple beads around the top hem.

Before I knew it, I had left Hagrid's and gotten dressed for the Yule Ball. Hermione and I did each other's hair. I put hers up in a half-ponytail, and curled the hair that swept across her shoulders. The hairstyle was very pretty on her. For my hair, Hermione curled mine, and left it down. I never wore my hair down for a dance before. Not that I can remember, anyways. The only time I can remember curling my hair was one random day last year when I could've easily passed as a hooker. I plan on never wearing a short skirt again; Although my personal plans never follow through.

The date was the twenty-third of December, and I didn't think it was very smart to have a dance the night before Christmas Eve. However, today is the first day of vacation, so I can plainly see why anyone would want to celebrate that.

"Maranda.. Only a few short minutes and we will be waltzing into the last Yule Ball of our educational careers. Unless of course we come back next year, but I don't know exactly what we will do next year. We might not be able to join the dances next year.. And-"

I interrupted Hermione, "'Mione, calm down. Next year can wait until next year. I say we just enjoy the dance while it lasts and not worry about if it's our last or not. Obviously it's not our last dance of the year because the Valentin'es or Spring Fling, and then we have a prom too. So, smile, stop worrying, and let's go have some fun at this Yule Ball!"

"You're right," Hermione nodded, "We're going to get even at Draco, and dance our butts off! What could be more fun?"

"Try getting away with revenge on Draco," Harry overheard us as Hermione and I entered the Common Room.

Ron and Harry looked like complete gentlemen in their suits. Ron had on a sky blue suit with a blue tie, and Harry had on a maroon suit with a black tie. Personally, I think they should've switched outfits, but Ron wants to look as cotton-candy-like as Hermione. They're going to be dates at the dance. Harry is going with a Hufflepuff named Julie. He would have gone with Veronica, but as she cheated on Harry awhile ago with Draco, guess who she's going with?

"Why don't you think we'll get away with the spell, Harry?" I questioned, hoping for an easy to defeat answer.

Cracking his knuckles, he replied, "Snape is chaperoning, Lockhart is chaperoning, Dumbledore is chaperoning a little, and because Draco is going to have his posse watch his back. They might see us with our wands out. And none of us know how to cast spells without our wand yet."

"True," Hermione agreed, "but None of the Professors will notice if you guys don't act like somethin terrible is going to happen."

"Yeah!" Seamus yelled as he appeared from the boy's dormitory.

Ron whined, "What are you so enthusiastic for, Freckle-Face?"

"I have no idea..." Seamus laughed as Neville appeared next to him.

Seamus and Neville were both in navy suits and ties. They both looked very good, if I can say so myself.

After conjugating for a few minutes, the rest of the Gryffindors started to pile out of the dorm rooms. This was the hint to leave for the Great Hall. As we entered the snowy-white, light blue decorated Great Hall, a feeling of peace and bliss came over me entirely. Here we were, in the Great Hall ready to dance our pants off...Even if some of us weren't wearing pants. Hey, good idea for a laugh...

"Hey Ron," I caught his attention as we all reached the center of the room, "I'm not wearing any pants."

"Don't you think that's a little crude to say at a dance, Miss Maguire?" Gilderoy Poptart lurked behind me. I felt belittled and emberassed as Ron tried to hold in his laughter.

"I was only joking, Professor. But it's true, I'm wearing a dress, not pants." My words went through his ear and out the other.

Harry saw that I was being scolded by Lockhart and he quickly jumped in, "Professor, I think someone just threw up! You better go check on them!"

"Duty awaits...I will be back later, Miss Maguire.." In an instant, Poptart walked away and out of site.

"Thanks a million, Scar-Boy." I thanked Harry and he looked at me oddly when I used his nickname. Honestly, I don't think he likes it very much.

Now in the center of the dance floor, Hermione, Harry, Seamus, Neville, Ron, and I danced the night away. Dumbledore was yet again using an orchestra that he hired for the night. In the corner of the Great Hall was a mini-bar like last year at the Spring Fling. Hopefully they didn't have any alchohol, but if they did I could easily frame Draco for imbibing it all. I realized while dancing that last year at the Yule Ball was when Ferret Boy spiked my drink. If he found out both Hermione and my plan, we'd be dead.

"Now's our chance!" Hermione grabbed me and pulled me a few feet away from Draco. My stomach lurched as my usual nerves started to act up.

I wanted to chicken out badly, but I knew that if I did, I would never get this chance again. And if this chance occured, if somehow I was able to get even with Draco again, I probably wouldn't...If I did, I'd be in more trouble. For some reason I think with Hermione I am safer to pull something than if I was alone. 'Mione is too smart to get into trouble.

"What are we going to do? Crawl on the floor and attack from below? No I know, we'll turn invisible and attack from all over." My sarcastic responses were not amusing Hermione.

"Follow my lead..You go distract Professor Lockhart or Snape, whomever is closer, and I will do the deed. Now go!" Giving me a push, Hermione braced herself for the biggest trick she ever pulled.

I raced towards the first Professor I could see, and thank Merlin it was who it was..

"Professor Lockhart!" I called, "Lovely dance, isn't it?"

His attention was, for a split second, on Hermione's side of the room, but then it was on me. He smiled, "Yes, it is a very great dance, indeed! I presume you are having fun?"

"The time of my life!" My perkiness covered up for my nerves.

"Your dress," Gilderoy winked while grinning, "is beautiful, if you don't mind my saying. Where did you get it?"

I noticed Snape walking around the room...Closer to Hermione in each step. "Hold on, Professor..." I ran through the croud in the dark room to Snape and 'accidentally' bumped into him.

"Miss Maguire! You have to watch where you're going!" Snape's cold voice was clearly not one of happiness.

How do I stall Snape? How do I stall Snape? How do I stall Snape?

"Do you know what day the E.Y.P test is?" My question made Snape's attention focus on me, and I saw Gilderoy moving towards the 'forbidden' part of the dance floor...Where Draco and Hermione were. Thank Merlin Draco didn't notice 'Mione.

"It should be-" Snape stopped speaking as I ran across the room to Lockhart.

"I made my dress!" I shouted as I came to a screaching hault at Gilderoy's side.

"Really?" Gilderoy looked my dress over, "That's very impressive. You have a sewing machine?"

I answered yes before running back to Snape, "Professor Snape, I have another question."

"What?" He sounded irritated.

For some reason I couldn't think of a question, and I noticed both Professors nearing Hermione. Even though she was hidden by the dark and croud of people, Snape always found trouble..and Gilderoy probably could too.

Snape got my attention, "I asked you what your question was, Maguire!"

"Did you know that ermm," I searched the hall for an idea, "the lit candles above us are under a spell to float and stay lit all night?"

He raised his eyebrows, which gave his face a good accent..In a morbid way, of course. "You are up to something...Let's see just what.."

Oh Fu-

"Maranda!" A hopeful and cheery voice called behind me.

I turned around, "Hermione!"

"Come on, you're missing the dance. Good evening, Professor Snape." She smiled and pulled me into the dance croud. Unfortunately Snape was following us.

We reached our group of friends and Snape sighed, "This is all you were hiding? Bad suits on teenage boys? Sorry Potter and Weasely, but your suits are atrocious, first of all, and all of you are very, very, very strange. This was not worth investigating." With a turn on his heel, Snape walked away from our group. I awaited impatiently for Hermione's news on our plan.