As the idea of Christmas loomed, so did ideas of a Christmas Yule Ball, another tradition of the Triwizard tournament. And so, Professor McGonagall saw fit to teach all the members of Gryffindor, as we were her own house, to dance. She summoned us all to a classroom, and had us all take a partner, and commence with dancing, instructing us on our posture and position. At first, their was a coldness between all, when we first began, but after a while, we all began to relax, laughing heavily as the boys whisked the girls around the small room, robes billowing in all directions.

After the practice we all collapsed into the common room, exhausted, having discovered new muscles, that few of us knew existed. I was sitting with Kerkera and Ginny in a few chairs near to the fire, and we were talking happily about the ball, and our dress robes. I was wearing a long and strapless set of robes, which was a weird coloured blue, with shade of green, and grey in it, although it still managed to be bright blue, and had a slightly metallic sheen.

Whilst the others spoke of their robes, we all began to get more and more excited, even though we weren't likely to have dates, as we could only go, if someone from an elder year asked us. Excitedly, I inquired of my two friends if they had dates.

"Yes," Kerkera answered at once.

"Who?" Ginny and I asked, eyes wide.

"I'm not going to say," she blushed, "'cause you'll only get mad."

That meant something bad, but, being the understanding friends we were, we said nothing, and left it.

"What about you, Gin?"

"Um, I think Neville might ask me."

"Wha?"

"Really?"

"Um, yes," and her freckles stood out more than ever, as the rest of her face flared, clashing with her hair.

"And you, Kara?" Kerkera turned on me.

"At the mo, I'm not going."

"WHAT!" they spoke in unison. "How can you 'not be going'?"

"No-one's asked me."

"Serious?"

"Uh-uh."

"You really don't have a partner yet?"

"No, I don't."

"Really?"

"NO, I DON'T HAVE A SODDING PARTNER YET. OK?" I stormed out of the common room, and up the stairs, towards the dorm. Throwing myself onto my bed, I wrenched the hanging surrounding it, firmly shutting them. Laying one my bed, staring at the thick stone ceiling, my mind wandered through angry streams of thought. And then I saw them, a pair of large eyes, glaring at me. So struck by fear was I, that I screamed, startling the creature whatever it was, that it fell from the ceiling, and landed on my lap.

It was an owl.

I quickly read the note, and then reread it, not believing what I had read.

Kara,

This ball. Go with me.

Seiji Furu-yama

(Ben)

I was shocked, so subtle. NOT! So blunt. Would I go with him? I hand had any other offers, and wasn't really likely to. And it wasn't like I didn't fancy him or anything.

Rereading the note once more, I turned it over, and scribbled yes on the back, before tying the tiny piece of parchment to the leg f the owl, which then flew off the bed, and out of the room.

Feeling relieved, and joyous that I now had a date, let out a shout, "Can I get a whoop whoop!"

"Ur, whoop whoop!" Kerkera and Ginny entered the room.

Kerri sat on the edge of my bed, pulling the curtain aside, "Uh, Kara, you feeling ok?"

"Uh-uh."

"Cool. Well, we're um, sorry, ok?"

"Yups. Perfectly ok."

They looked at me uncertainly before preparing themselves for bed. I changed into my long nightie, and then fell asleep, into delighted dreams of flowing dress robes, loud music, and beautiful boys.