A/N: Hi again, I'm back. OK so last chapter there was a cliffy. I guess. Anyway I will address that in this chapter, but very, very, VERY vaguely. Let's just let you read it and find out. YES, YES, YES! Standardized tests, meet your end! Summer is almost here! OK sorry. Here you go chapter 9.

Chapter 9: Invitations and Aggravations

"Oh God. Why did this have to happen to me?"

"Did you see your face? You looked like you were having a stroke."

"Ginny," Luna scolded. "Not helping." Luna patted Jazz's back soothingly, with an empathetic frown on her face.

Ginny, setting her face in a huff, said as she crossed her arms across her chest, "Humph. Well, ex-CUSE me."

"How many people do you think saw it?" Jazz sat with her head in her hands, leaning over the table in her room. They'd just gotten back from staying by the lake, working on their homework, and now they were waiting to go to dinner.

Luna looked upwards thoughtfully and Ginny replied without hesitation, "Almost the entire gaggle of kids there. You guys made quite a little scene, you know." At this Luna hit Ginny hard on the arm with her fist, and Jazz groaned with hurt pride.

"I'll never leave my dorm."

"Don't be thick," Luna said briskly. "You will too. You've got class, to start with. You've also got to eat. I know how you disapprove of house elves coming and waiting on you hand and foot; so I know you won't make them do that. Not to mention - " Luna looked down where Jazz's face was hiding in her hands – "you've got your responsibilities as Head Girl to withhold."

"She's got a point, mate," Ginny agreed. Jazz lifted her head and sent daggers at the pair of them. "Well, sorry. Merlin. I suppose I'll be quiet then, shall I?"

"That might help," Luna returned seriously. To Jazz she spat, "Get up. We've to go to dinner, and I am starved. Let's go."

"No," Jazz told her. "I'm not going." She plopped onto her bed with her face towards the fake constellation of glow in the dark stars she had plastered on the ceiling. "I'm …I'm too tired. I think I'll go to bed."

Ginny informed Luna that this was, after all, Jazz's room, and, if she wanted to go to sleep, she could. Luna made a loud harrumphing noise and stomped out of the dormitory, Ginny following grumpily after her after apologizing to Jazz.

"Don't worry," she said with a small smile, "It isn't that bad."

'Easy for her to say.' Jazz thought, finally, after they left, sitting up. She pushed herself off of her bed and reached for a pony holder off of her white dresser. Messily she forced all her frizz free chestnut hair into a ponytail and stared into her mirror (thankfully, it wasn't a charmed one, she didn't think she could stand the snotty comments from the others any more) while analyzing the day.

Everything had been going great. Since Hogsmeade, Jazz and Dean had been "going out" as it most often referred to. They sat by each other at dinner; they studied together; they sat by the lake reading on the weekends. Jazz had even been doing better in every class, including Occlumency. She hadn't had any more flashbacks or time travels, nothing since then. 'I guess it drained it out of me last time.' And except for the fact that Harry was a bit distant towards her, everything was perfect for Jazz.

Even Cho Chang hadn't been taking time out of her "oh so important" schedule to ridicule Jazz for her dating choice. ('YES!') So why was Jazz so upset? Simple. Professor Dumbledore explained it all at lunchtime.

"Students, students, let's settle down, please," Professor Dumbledore said as he brushed his spectacles upwards on the bridge of his nose. The other youths' voices died down almost instantly, while Jazz watched intensely. "Now, I have some rather good news that I'd like to announce.

"This year, my young students, we shall reinstate the Yule Ball." A loud murmur erupted from the tables, and Jazz listened as girls squealed and boys all around groaned. She could have sworn she saw Dean high five Seamus. 'Luna - '

'Shh! I want to hear this!' Jazz quieted in her mind and turned back to Dumbledore who had just cleared his throat, signaling a new silence to begin.

"It is a great time to celebrate being with friends, Christmas, and I hope you all enjoy this time immensely. After lunch, would the Head Boy and Girl, along with all the prefects please come to the high table for a quick word before heading off to class? Thank you."

"What does he want to see us for?" Ginny asked Jazz when Dumbledore was finished talking. When she made sure her brother and fellow prefect wasn't paying attention, she went on. "So, a Yule Ball, eh? And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't know," Jazz said with a worried tone. "How are things with you and you-know-who?"

Ginny blushed and growled, "SH! Don't bring that up here!" She stared down determinedly at her plate and said, "I hope he asks me."

Jazz laughed and finished her lunch. When Dumbledore pronounced lunch finished, she, Ginny, Ron, and Harry, both of whom had been ignoring her lately, met up with Luna and Terry Boot from Ravenclaw, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin, and Justin Finch-Fletchley and Serena Arthur from Hufflepuff at the front of the Great Hall.

"Ah, yes, we're all here. Well, let's get right to it. Tradition goes that at the beginning of a Yule Ball, the three champions are to start off the dancing, but seeing as there is no tournament this year, we will alter it a bit.

"Instead, we will have the Head Boy, Girl, and prefects with their partners start off the dance." Dumbledore paused while waiting on a reaction from Jazz and her friends. "The Yule Ball will be held on Christmas Evening, and I do hope you stay this break and enjoy it. Now, are there any questions?"

"Can we ask whom ever we wish?" Ginny asked nervously. Everyone turned their eyes on her so fast she shrank backwards while fumbling with a group of red hair.

Chuckling slightly, Dumbledore answered in his old voice, "Yes, except for the Head Boy and Girl, I'm afraid they'll have to go together and start the dance."

'WHAT!' Jazz thought, shocked. 'No, no, no! Dean! I want to go with Dean!'

'Chill,' Luna thought back to her, 'you'll still be able to dance with your one true love, you'll just have to dance with Harry first.'

"Alright, well, you all must go off to class, so off you go, off you go." Dumbledore waved the group off and barreled out of sight behind the High table through a tall wooden door.

"Jeez, could this be more …well, traditional?" Luna asked Ginny out loud as they and Jazz tumbled out of the Great Hall and towards their next class.

Ginny and Jazz laughed lightly, but Jazz didn't hear the joke. Her mind was droning on about what to do. 'Harry and I have to start the dance…but I can still go with Dean…I wonder how Cho feels…'

"Hey, Jazz, can I see you for a moment?" Harry called out as he, Ron, Luna, and Jazz made their way over to Hagrid's hut (Ginny was in fifth year, therefore not in the same class as them.) "Please?" Jazz noticed his green eyes shine bright as he watched her walk over, slightly nervous.

'What's he want now?' Jazz thought. Harry heard it, and became sour. "Yes?" she said in a sweet as honey voice.

Harry blew a string of air out and replied, "About the Dance. Look. We don't have to go together. You can have your precious Dean as your date. All Professor Dumbledore said was we have to dance."

Jazz tried to hide her sarcasm in the next statement, but had little success in doing so, "Oh well I'm glad you settled that. I'd hate to have the idea of us going together in my mind, Harry."

"I'm only trying to help." Harry retorted, bright shocking green eyes flashing and black untidy hair whipping around him in the wind. "What, do you want to go together?"

"NO! Do us both a favor: Don't. Just think; now you can go with your two timing bimbo, Cho; you two are an item again, aren't you?" Jazz shot at him; then turning around and leaving him staring at her with anger boiling under both their skins.

"Hey," Dean said, pecking Jazz's cheek as she joined the class. "What was that all about?" he pointed over to where Jazz and Harry had been standing a moment ago.

"Nothing," Jazz answered, still gazing angrily at Harry. "Nothing at all."

The fact was Jazz had wanted him to ask her to the dance. At least a part of her had, anyway. A part she hadn't known existed. 'But I'm going with Dean,' she thought defiantly, 'At least I will, when he asks me.'

The rest of the class, Harry did not speak to her. He did not look at her. He didn't even walk past her. Jazz knew she should apologize, but Harry had acted so strangely. It wasn't her fault he was being an ass, she kept insisting in her mind. In her heart, however, she was being beaten within an inch of her life.

So now Jazz held her hair up, replaying the events in her mind over and over again. She then heard a rapping on the portrait, and knew it was someone she'd never had in her dormitory. She raced around her room, moving her girlish items to the hiding places she'd made for them whenever Harry came over. Finally she opened the portrait hole, seeing the visitor to be none other than Dean.

"Dean?" She went confusedly. "Why are you in here? Shouldn't you be at dinner?"

"Shouldn't you be?"

"Good point. I'm not very hungry, though. You kept going on about how you were starving about an hour after lunch."

Dean chuckled and sank into the chair Ginny had been in before. "There was something I wanted to tell you."

"Okay," Jazz said unsurely. "Go ahead."

"Well, I don't really know how to."

Jazz understood. "Well…just…you know, spit it out." Dean's dark chocolate brown eyes had sorrow in them, and Jazz could tell something was wrong. "What is it, Dean? You know you can tell me." Jazz leaned over and kissed Dean for the first time on his cheek. 'Wow, that felt SO weird!'

Dean, looking shocked, exclaimed, "I – I – I …I was going to…going to tell you…er…" he brushed one of his long fingered hands over his hair, blowing air out of his mouth. "Well, just that, I can't go to the dance with you."

Jazz's jaw slacked, and her eyes glazed over. "W–what?" 'He isn't going with me? Who will I go with?'

"I'm sorry. Sophie Brendan – she's a fifth year – asked me at lunch, and I thought you'd have to go with Harry, so I told her yes." 'Who am I going to go with!' "Are you okay?"

Jazz realized her mouth was slack, and she straightened in her seat. "Oh, yes. I'm fine, and that's OK, Dean. I understand. So…are we …broken up?"

"I suppose so." Dean ruffled his hair again. "I'm really sorry, Jazz. I really like you, I guess I just…"

"You like her more. I understand. We can still be friends." 'Damn him! Now I have to tell Harry I'm sorry.'

"Phew! So I'll see you later then, Jazz?" Dean said with a smile crossing his lips. Jazz nodded, gave Dean a hug, and waved him out. When he left, she dropped herself onto her bed.

"That's it. I'm definitely NOT leaving this dormitory. Not if it isn't the last thing I do."

XXX

A/N: WA-LA, WA-LA, PING, PING – yep, so How do you like this one? I don't think it's as good as the first 8…oh well… I was just trying something new, I suppose I'll find out whether its good or not in the reviews, eh…oh yes, before I loose the thought, I suppose I shall allow you to know the title of the next chapter, maybe then you'll be more inclined to review, especially since I won't post until I get at least…3 reviews on this chapter. I'm so easy :-P !

Chapter 10: The Kiss

Jazz giggled as he chased her manically. "Stop! I give up! Please!" she cried in faux terror. The snow was terrible, two feet of icy coldness just waiting to pull you in, and it grabbed onto Jazz's ankles, yanking her closer still to the rough ground. Jazz noticed her hair safely tucked inside her hat was now becoming wild behind her as she ran around, out running him with haste.

"I'll get you yet!" He cried, laughing evilly. 'He's catching up with me!' Jazz thought desperately as she tried to find a spot to hide herself. She stopped and loaded a handful of ice onto her gloves, molding it into the shape of a ball. When she finished, she launched it at him, eyes gleaming and she watched it slam into his cheek.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I thought I'd miss!" Jazz yelled backwards in half-truth, half sarcasm, tearing across the grounds. She turned her head so she could see how close he was, but she lost her footing; landing in a pile of snow soft as pillows.

She was laughing so hard she hadn't realized that he too had fallen next to her, snickering hysterically. He found it hard to speak, but finally he gasped, "That…was …awesome! Let's do it again!"

Jazz just giggled a little more as a reply, resting her wrist on her forehead. Her eyes closed, she imagined herself with him, lying in his arms in front of a fire, smiling widely for the world to see. When those silver pools of knowledge opened, they saw a pair of eyes so shockingly beautiful, she gasped. 'Oh…my…God…' was the last thing she thought, because at that moment, she became incapable of thinking anything.

Because at that moment, he leaned down, and kissed her.

XXX

So there you go, a little taste of what is to come. Can you guess who kissed her? EEEE! Guess you'll just have to hope I get three reviews for this chapter, eh?

Sylverwings

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