Disclaimer – I do NOT own Harry Potter.
THERE IS NO CHO IN THIS STORY
Chapter 3 – The Yule Ball
Christmas morning dawned cold but bright upon the Hogwarts grounds. Everyone's mind which usually would be on the breakfast or tea was now on the Yule Ball that would take place that night. Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to breakfast that morning. The great hall was unusually packed for Christmas as all the 4th years and above had stayed for the ball. They sat down at their usual place at the table and helped themselves to the Christmas cooking. Even Hermione didn't talk about S.P.E.W all through breakfast. She still hadn't told Ron who she was going with for the ball and that was irritating him beyond measure. Harry was sick of them bickering over the fact and finished his breakfast quickly, planning to go take a walk. As he walked out of the entrance hall and towards the lake, he spotted Cedric and Nat in a distance. He didn't want to go there at first, but his curiosity got the best of him and he continued walking. As he got closer, he could catch parts of the conversation.
"And, I don't know why he's acting that way Cedric. I thought he was ok with it."
"I don't understand either. He's really been nice to me, but now he's giving me a cold shoulder and well, I don't know. He was the one who told me about the dragon. I just wish I knew about that egg, that way, I could help him too."
Harry froze. He had been the one who told Cedric about the dragons. So, could it be that Nat and Cedric were discussing about him? He hid behind a withering white tree and continued listening.
"I don't understand him sometimes." Nat said.
"Natalie?"
"Yeah Cedric?"
"You, um, do you; do you want to go out with me?"
"Um, Cedric, I'll have to think about it, I'll tell you after the ball tonight?"
"Yeah, sure, no problem."
Nat nodded and made to get up, but Cedric pulled her back down.
"Let's talk for a while more."
Harry had no mind to continue listening. He turned and walked towards Hagrid's cabin. He knocked on the door but no one answered. Wondering where Hagrid was, he walked back to the castle, feeling worse than he had felt since his fight with Ron.
That evening all the girls at Hogwarts seemed to have gone mysteriously missing. Harry and Ron walked around the grounds occasionally dodging stray snowballs from Fred and George's snowball fights.
At 6.30, both of them unwillingly made their way up to their dormitories to get changed. Ron was fussing over his lacy and ancient dress robes. Harry was content with his, although he regretted going down to the great hall, not because he had to hang onto Parvati, but because he had to see Nat with Cedric.
Meanwhile at the girls' dormitory,
"How do I look Nat?"
"Great Hermione, are you done with the hair potion?"
"Yeah, here you go." Hermione handed Nat the bottle of hair potion and looked at herself in the mirror again. Her pink dress fitted her perfectly and the frills at the end made her look much taller. She was wearing light pink stilettos and her hair was made into an elegant bun with little tendrils hanging at the front. The usual bushiness of her hair was gone and made her slightly unrecognizable.
Nat applied the hair potion and her hair immediately became sleek and smooth, possible to shape into any hairstyle. She thought she'd just let it down, so she took her 'Dee'ranges All purpose Magical Hairstyler' and switched it to straightening mode. She then flicked the switch and it immediately began straightening her hair as she applied some makeup. She would go very simply. She applied some foundation, mascara and light lipstick. She applied very little blush and eye shadow. With her hair totally straightened, she clipped just the fringe with a crystal clip she had gotten for Christmas from her aunt. She then put on a crystal necklace; the one Cedric had given her as an early Christmas gift.
"Do I look ok?" Nat asked Hermione.
"OK? Nat, you look stunning."
"Thanks. Shall we get going then? It's nearly 7.45, and I said I'd meet Cedric at 7.50."
"Yeah ok, just make sure Ron and Harry aren't there."
Nat suddenly went a little stiff.
"Yeah, we definitely have to make sure Harry's not there."
She peeked out of the door and into the common room. No one was there except Parvati Patil and some other 3rd year girls. So, she and Hermione made their way down and exited the common room. Nat thought she saw Parvati giving her a fleeting look as she left.
When they reached the entrance hall, Nat said goodbye to Hermione and searched for Cedric. He was waiting for her at the entrance to the great hall. He was wearing dress robes of black and bowed when she arrived. Nat smiled and took his hand. Quickly the entrance hall began to fill up, Krum and Fleur had come to find Cedric and Nat waved to Hermione as she arrived hand in hand with Krum. Finally, Harry arrived with Parvati. Nat was talking to Cedric and didn't notice him. Professor McGonagall arrived and ushered all other students into the great hall. She then turned to the champions,
"As you are all well aware of, you will be starting the dance. You will be led into the hall in a few moments; you will all approach the staff table and be seated for dinner. After which you will proceed to the dance floor and well, start the dance, which will continue till midnight. And now, follow me please."
She opened the doors of the great hall again and walked in, followed closely by the eight of them. The great hall was decorated most lavishly, with every inch covered in crystals, giving the whole place a royal and beautiful look. The eight of them were greeted with applause from the fellow students and teachers. They proceeded to the staff table and sat down, staring down at the hundreds of other students, also taking their seats. They shouted out the food they wanted and it magically appeared on the plates. All the way through dinner, Harry was practically staring at Nat and Cedric, and then at Hermione and Krum. Parvati was getting irritated.
"Are you even going to talk to me? Look at everyone else, their talking to their dates.'
Harry found that she was absolutely right when he looked around the hall once. Everyone was talking to their dates and enjoying themselves. Well, maybe except Ron and Padma Patil; Ron was staring at Hermione. He turned to Parvati.
"Sorry, I'm just not in a mood to talk now."
"Fine."
Parvati turned back to her food, looking slightly offended. After dinner, the plates and goblets vanished together with the food. The tables pulled to the sides and an enormous dance floor was erected in the middle of the room. The lights dimmed slightly and the band started playing a slow tune.
"Now, our four champions and their dates will begin the dance." Said Dumbledore's magically magnified voice.
Harry got up together will all the other champions and made to the dance floor, he mouth completely dry. At the dance floor, Parvati turned to face him.
"Just do what I say, follow my lead."
She grabbed Harry's hands, placing one at her waist and holding the other. She started moving to the beat of the music. Harry stumbled at first, but after a while, he found it easy. He just had to follow Parvati's lead. He glanced at the other side of the dance floor.
Cedric was dancing with Nat with complete ease. Nat was smiling. She was obviously enjoying herself. Harry took a moment to register the scene. Her hands around his neck, his around her waist. And it took a loud "Concentrate," from Parvati for him to stop staring at them.
Finally, after the song ended, Harry made to move out of the dance floor.
"Wait," said Parvati.
"We've only danced for one song, there are so many more to go."
"Sorry." Was the only thing Harry said before he left the dance floor, leaving Parvati looking extremely hurt. Harry walked to the place where Ron was seated. He was glaring at Hermione and Krum.
"Tough night for the both of us huh?" asked Harry.
"Yeah. Want to go for a walk?"
"Ok. Come on."
Harry and Ron walked out of the hall and headed for the grounds.In the hall, the music was now a fast beat waltz and Cedric and Nat were having the time of their lives.
"Enjoying yourself?" asked Cedric in between their steps.
"Of Course. But I think my stilettos restrict my movement. I can't keep up with you." Replied Nat with a smile.
" It's alright, I was planning to stop after this song anyway."
"Good idea."
At long last, the music ended and Nat and Cedric stepped off the dance floor. Many girls flocked over to them immediately. But Cedric was too quick for them.
"Nat, lets go for a walk." He said loudly.
Nat smiled and took his arm. They walked out of the castle and made for the lake. Nat shivering vigorously because of the cold weather and her tube dress.
"Here." Cedric removed his outer cloak and gave it to her.
"No, you have it, you'll feel cold."
"At least my shoulders aren't exposed." Cedric grinned.
Nat smiled and put on the cloak. She felt immensely relieved.
"Thanks."
They reached the lake and sat down.
"Nice ball huh?" asked Cedric.
"I just wish those people will stop staring at us like jackals waiting to pounce. I mean, what's their problem?"
"Well, I've had so many girls ask me to the ball so far that I can't count."
"Yeah, me too. Well, we shouldn't be egoistic about it, although it is something to be proud of." They laughed. Cedric suddenly met Nat's gaze. Nat looked away and blushed.
"Cedric,"
"Yeah?"
"I was thinking about this morning, and well, yeah I'll go out with you."
"Great, I, well, I'm really." Cedric was speechless.
"Well, you want to know what I think?" Said a voice from behind a tree.
Both of them turned to see who it was.
"I think you both are disgusting."