Unexpected Events
"Now listen up. As you know this would be your last year at Hogwarts, there would be a graduation ball this Christmas Eve. Usually, the ball is held after your N.E.W.T.s exams but he felt that we need to make appropriate changes. This year, ex-students of Hogwarts are invited to come with us. We wanted students who had left this school to establish a close rapport between the staff and students of Hogwarts. You would of course have to find a dance partner, just like the yule ball you attended three years ago. You can ask anyone in this school, no matter which year she or he comes from or you may also ask the former students. It is exactly one week before Christmas Eve. You would have enough time to find a dance partner."
"Bloody hell. We're in a middle of a war with you-know-who and there's still time to have a ball," said Ron. "Come on Ron. It's our last year here. We're not going to allow anyone to spoil the day," said Harry. "Yeah. The school is clever enough not to let Voldermort affect our lives. If we were to live in fear and not enjoy, it would be surrendering yourself," said Hermione.
Harry sent an owl, asking to come with him to the ball. He felt so much more confident than he did at the previous ball. Maybe it was because he wasn't asking her face to face. Or maybe it's just because he already knew Cho was his girlfriend.
Hogwarts had became lively for the first time this year in the next few days. They could see people nervous people on the corridors, spying on their target, waiting for the right moment to ask them out to the ball. "They remind me of us. Back in our fourth year. Especially you Harry. You were always making fool of yourself whenever you saw Cho," Ron said excitedly. "Talk about yourself. I suppose you remembered asking Fleur to the ball. Anyway, I guess you two are going to the ball together?" asked Harry. "Yeah. It took Ron early enough to ask me. McLaggen asked me out shortly after I accepted Ron's invitation. So lucky for Ron," said Hermione sarcastically. "As if you were going to accept him had I not asked you out." "Yeah, whatever. So Harry, I suppose you are taking Cho to the ball," asked Hermione. "Of course. She sent me a letter to say that she can make it."
The Graduation Ball
"Wow! Ron, where did you get those dress robes? They're way better than the one's you got back at our fourth year," said Harry, spotting Ron in his dress robes. "Fred and George bought this for me using their profit from the joke shop." "I should have known who else would have bought a dragon skin dress robes. And it's informal. Typical of them," said Harry, who just realized the material the dress robes were made of. "Yeah. But it doesn't matter. At least it's not second hand." "Well, congrats for having such a perfect replacement mate. I gotta go now. I've promised to meet Cho at the lake. See you at the ball." Before Ron could say anything, Harry had disappeared.
Cho was already down at the lake. She was wearing a sleeveless black dress that runs down to her knees. It had some pattern on it which Harry couldn't really figure out what is it from far. He could see that Cho was shivering. It would take someone as thick as Crabbe & Goyle to survive this winter in that kind of clothes.
Harry walked silently towards Cho from behind, careful not to alert her of his presence. As he came closer, he put his arms around her waist. "Still feeling cold now?" he asked. "No. Not really. But it would be better if we go up to the castle," said Cho. Harry let go of her waist and then take her by the hand. They proceeded to the great hall together. "You look gorgeous Ms. Chang." "You too Mr. Potter"
As Harry and Cho entered the great hall, they stood there awestruck by the decorations that had been placed. There were mirrors on every side of the wall which made the hall looked bigger. There were crystal sculptures everywhere in different shapes. The famous one being a swan. "This is so much better than the Yule ball," said Cho. Harry's inside lurched. Cho had said that he like it better now than the Yule ball, which she went with Cedric. And he now she's with Harry. She's probably implementing that she liked Harry more than Cedric now. But she might just been referring to the decorations. "Harry, so you want to dance?" said Cho. "Sure. Just don't get angry if I tripped and fell." Cho grinned and they make their way to the dance floor, which just realized was made of wood tiling. Harry and Cho danced gracefully. Not really graceful if you count the number of times Harry trip and nearly fell.
There were many ex-hogwarts students present at the ball. Fred and George, Lavender Brown, the Patil twins, Seamus Finnigan, Oliver Wood, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell and many others whom Harry did not knew their names.