The Next Day
"Come on, Ang! Dance lessons are in ten minutes!" Rose called up to Angel as she took one last look at herself in the mirror. Her silvery blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail and she wore dark blue jeans that hugged her hips with a white cashmere sweater, a birthday present from her father.
"I really hope I don't make a fool of myself...especially since all of the hottest guys in Hogwarts will be there," Rose said, sighing even though she didn't know why.
Angel came running down the stairs. "OK, I'm ready! Let's go!" she exclaimed.
Rose quickly fixed her blue eyeliner before following quickly after Angel. They practically ran until they got to the Great Hall, where it was split up in the middle, girls on one side, and boys on the other.
There was a huge record off to one side and Professor McGonagall stood in the middle of the hall. "The Yule Ball," she began once everyone was silent. "Is first and foremost...a dance." All the boys groaned while the girls all giggled excitedly.
Rose caught Harry's eye from across the space and made a face at him. He stuck his tongue right back out at her as Ron mumbled something to Harry.
The smile faded from Rose's face but returned immediately when McGonagall asked Ron to dance. The whole hall erupted into laughter as the music started and they attempted to waltz across the hall. "Everyone, find a partner and join in!" McGonagall exclaimed.
Every single girl immediately flew to their feet and walked forward to the middle of the floor, giggling uncontrollably.
All the boys mumbled things to each other for a few minutes. It was clear none of them wanted to get up until Neville stood up and made his way onto the floor, asking for Ginny Weasley's hand.
Rose caught Cedric's eye and he stood up, making his way over to her, just beating about 10 other boys. He smiled and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked.
Rose smiled and took his outstretched hand, a collective groan coming from all of the other guys because Cedric got to Rose before they did.
"Looks like a lot of other guys wanna be where I am," Cedric said, grinning. Rose laughed.
"Yeah," she said nervously, concentrating on McGonagall since she didn't know what else to do.
She didn't really know what to do, or where to look for that matter, so she looked down at their feet as he placed his hand on her waist and they followed McGonagall's and Ron's example. She glanced up at Cedric but had to look away quickly...his gaze was so intense that she swore she was blushing. Even after she looked away she felt his eyes on her.
"You can look at me, you know," he said, laughing a little. "It's not like I'm Medusa." Rose looked up at him for a second, puzzled. Suddenly, her eyes grew wide and she started to laugh hysterically.
"I'm sorry," she said, trying to keep her gaze on him, but for some reason it was just too hard and she ended up diverting her eyes to someplace else again after a second or two.
"You're pretty good at this," he said. "I've never been much of a dancer myself...well not like this, anyway."
Rose looked at him for a second and said. "You're doing fine."
He smiled down at her, his eyes seeming to bore into her very soul as he picked her up, setting her down a second later.
She giggled a little then looked around the room. "Wow," she said softly. "Who knew Neville Longbottom could dance?"
"I guess he's been practicing," Cedric replied. McGonagall held up her and everyone came to a cease.
McGonagall was saying something about the Yule Ball while Cedric leaned down and whispered in Rose's ear, "Thanks for the dance."
She smiled back at him in response. It seemed like he was about to say something else, but one of his friends came up and pulled him away.
As soon as he was out of sight, Angel ran over to her and practically screamed, "Did he ask you?"
"Shhhh! And no...he didn't unfortunately...I think he was going to but his friends came over," Rose said sighing. Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned around, smiling as she saw Harry. "Heya, who'd you get stuck with for your dance partner?"
"Cho Chang," he said, smiling. Rose and Angel whistled loudly. "So, did you ask her?" Angel asked. It was common knowledge that Harry had a major crush on the Ravenclaw 5th year.
"Well...not quite..." Harry blushed and smiled. "Oh Harry you HAVE to!" Rose squealed, dragging him out of the Great Hall.
"Yeah, Harry!" Angel agreed. "Before you know it, she'll be snatched off by the likes of Cedric Diggory!" Harry laughed. "Yeah well...I don't think I have to worry about that, do I, Rose?"
"Well I hope not," Rose said being modest as usual as they made their way to the Gryffindor tower.
When they got into the common room, Harry turned to smile at them. "Well, ladies, I have some unfinished homework to...well...finish," he said. "G'night, Ang, Cherry."
The girls smiled and said, "G'night, Harry," before heading upstairs.
2 days later everyone met up again in the Great Hall after dinner for dance lessons. This time Rose decided to wear a knee length red dress, tight up top but flowy at the bottom, perfect for dancing, pairing this with a pair of cute red pumps. She made Angel dress up as well so that she wouldn't look like an idiot, the only one wearing a dress.
"Silence everyone!" McGonagall said, holding up her hands. "Tonight, you will not be waltzing again." A buzz of chattering erupted around the hall. "What's she talking about?" Angel asked Rose.
"Today...we will be learning the finer art of the tango," McGonagall said. There was an excited whisper all around the Great Hall and even though she wasn't looking at him, Rose could feel Cedric's eyes linger on her from where he sat and she felt her cheeks grow warm against her will.
"Quiet please," McGonagall commanded. "Now, will everyone please find a partner and we will begin." Cedric immediately walked over to Rose. "My, you're looking lovely this evening," he said in a deep voice, making Rose giggle and blush as well.
"You're dressed for the occasion I see," He said, gesturing to her red gown, and how her hair was pulled in a knot on her head.
"I guess so," she replied, smiling as the fast beat of the tango rang throughout the great hall and they tried to imitate the two younger people showing them how to do the dance.
Cedric spun her around then pulled her closer, slowly getting into the rhythm of the music. They just let the music take over and their bodies flow until they were they only ones dancing and everyone was watching them.
Cedric slowly dipped her back, and Rose let her head fall back until he pulled her back up, "You're quite good at this," he whispered, clasping her hand in his as he moved her out for the spin.
Rose blushed as red as her dress when she realized there was no one still dancing, they were all watching them, and then she was pulled against Cedric's chest as the spin brought her in, his hands wrapped intimately around her waist. "Do you want to go to the ball with me?" he murmured quietly in the heat of the moment.
"Uh huh," she whispered back, her voice coming out in a squeak.
They continued to dance as everyone else did as well, forgetting that there was anyone else in the room. The music eventually stopped and, unexpectedly, as Cedric pulled her in from the spin he kissed her lips softly.
Rose was so glad that everyone else was giving their attention to McGonagall at that moment...she really didn't want her first kiss, the thought of it made her blush even more, to be known to the public.
"Well, I guess we'd better get going," she said quietly, Cedric's arms still around her.
He slowly let go and smiled at her. "I'll see you around then, Rose."
With that he slowly walked away, meeting up with his friends at the door, where they all seemed to practically jump on him. Rose couldn't help but laugh.
"OH MY GOD!" she heard Angel scream from behind her, causing everyone to stare.
Rose turned around. "Keep your voice down! What are you screaming about anyways?" Rose demanded, pulling Angel out of the Great Hall, where everyone's attention was now on them. She signaled for Harry to follow them as they walked by.
"Oh, come on!" Angel squealed. "You and Cedric couldn't keep your hands off of each other!"
"Well..." Rose blushed, "I suppose you heard it, but he asked me to the ball," Rose squealed, deciding she'd tell Angel about him kissing her later.
"Way to go, Cherry!" Harry said, slapping her on the back. Rose giggled.
"Wow...you're speaking as though I just won a game of Quidditch." They all laughed until Ron came over.
"Um, Harry," he said, his eyes glued to Rose. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Uh sure Ron," Harry replied, "I'll see you two later!" He called to Angel and Rose as Ron started to drag him in the other direction.
Rose sighed. "He always just comes over to stare at me," she said miserably. "Why can't he just let us be friends with Harry? It's like they're both trying to control him!"
"I know Rosie," Angel said, sighing as well, "Now, upstairs, I want the DETAILS!" Angel exclaimed, pushing her up the stairs practically.
The girls spent most of the night awake, talking all about what happened that night until Hermione came into the dormitory.
"You're making too much noise up here," she said coldly. "Some people are trying to study downstairs."
"Well perhaps you should stop studying then before you burst a brain cell trying to concentrate, its bloody midnight you prat you should be asleep!" Angel exclaimed.
"Angel, don't," Rose whispered but Angel cut her off.
"No, Rose! I'm sick of this!" She turned back to Hermione. "I'm sick of you and Ron hating us for no reason and trying to keep us away from Harry! We're his friends too, you know!"
Hermione said nothing, only glared at them before leaving the room and slamming the door behind her. "Uh, now she's going to hate us even mooooore," Rose groaned, stuffing her face in the pillow.
"So what if she does?" Angel exclaimed. When she got going, there was no stopping her. "I'm sick of living like this, like we're so inferior!"
"Ang, I know...but there's nothing we can do, now please, let's just go to bed..." Rose exclaimed, pulling her covers up to her chin.
Angel sighed. "Fine," she said, getting into bed. "Good night, Rose."
"Night Angel," Rose sighed quietly, staring at the dark ceiling for a moment before finally shutting her eyes and falling into a deep dreamless sleep