Oliver Wood sat inside the Great Hall watching Crystal, his last-minute date, gossip on and on with her friends. She was blond but made the incredibly stupid mistake of dying it black over the summer, and her hair had proceeded to blend and fade to a disgusting brown. Crystal had been rejected by three guys and had heard of Oliver's desperate straits. Unfortunately for him, Shini had casually said she would go with Marcus.

Merlin, Oliver thought, slamming his fist quietly on the table, this could have gone so well if not for that ass! (If you, by some crazy twist of fate, have yet to figure out that Oliver hates, loathes, and utterly despises 'Flint,' well, now you know.)

Oliver noticed the crowd of dancing couples and chatterers quiet slightly, their attention drifting to a singular area. He turned to see his crush, gorgeous, generous, and glowing as she truly was, on the arm of his worst enemy. Several Slytherins clapped when they saw their sweetheart-couple of the night arrive, and more joined in the celebration as Josh and Cash waltzed in accordingly with their fine dates. Whistles roared and screeched through the hall. Girls gazed admirably at Shini, and while all four houses were inclined to 'take off their hats,' a few Gryffindors sneered lightly knowing she had stolen the heart of their golden boy. The crowd adored her: nice, sociable, but mostly because she represented everything a witch and Hogwarts student should be. She was honorable, respectful, respectable, and downright beautiful, through and through.

Oliver stood, dumbfounded. She…She…I don't believe this, she rally showed up with him! She's the most stunning girl in school and she went with Frankenstein! Oliver fumed, swinging his arm violently only to knock over several goblets and shattering the one he'd actually struck. He grabbed his wrist; it still hurt from when Flint had stabbed him with his wand. I will not loose her, but his thoughts were interrupted by Dumbledore rising to silence the students.

"Attention, students," he began, "please, be seated for our feast." All students sat and soon luscious plates full of scrumptious food appeared before their eyes.

Oliver talked amongst his Gryffindor friends and Quidditch players. Soon enough they were deep into the subject of Slytherin and Marcus Flint. It lightened Oliver's mood to talk trash about the other boy, though he only caught blurbs and didn't see who was saying what; he was staring at his plate, conversing and ranting in his own mind.

"Their team is good this year, but we're even better."

"Yeah, but I think Jared made a few mistakes by not putting the best players on the team."

"Totally! Have you seen some of the older Slytherin girls play? I mean, their wretched excuses for human beings, sure, but that doesn't mean they couldn't kick our asses."

"Not all of them are—"

"Oh man, have you seen this one, I don't know her name—"

"—the blond in black?"

"No, her friend, the one that's good at Quidditch, pay attenti—"

"Oh, brown hair and beauty are definitely working in her favor!"

"Tell me about it…"

"Well, you'd be hit by a Bludger in a second, so it's a good thing she's not on—"

"She is not that pretty. I mean, I'm so much prettier than that, right John?"

"Oh, please, Vanessa!"

"Well, I think she's pretty hott. And that dress, WOW! I tell you, if I wasn't sixteen, I'd—"

"That's alright," Oliver joined in, "I don't think we need to hear what you'd do."

"Or who!"

"You're no fun when you get dumped, Oliver." People laughed.

"I did NOT get dumped." Oliver paused. "She…just already had a date."

"With that!" Someone pointed at Flint across the room, "how? I couldn't stand to go with him!"

"I don't think that Ms. Carwell would appreciate this conversation as much as you'd hope if she could hear you. Don't you agree, Mr. Wood?"

Oliver rolled back his head to gaze upon half-moon glasses. He gulped. "No, Headmaster Dumbledore, she wouldn't." Oliver looked back down to his feet.

A/N: this isn't the completed part one of the Yule Ball, but it's what I have for now. check back to make sure you don't miss anything before reading part two when it comes up!