"For goodness' sake Neville, its rise and fall, not trudge and jump!"

It seemed that Hooch had become even testier in their second dance class. Neville let out a dramatic, angry sigh but squinted slightly in extreme concentration and tried the steps again. They had slowly progressed to the proper Waltz, moving in circles and diagonals, and they were meant to be rising and falling with each step, but many had serious trouble with this. Ginny got it within the first few tries, but Hooch was pushing her harder and even followed her round the floor with her hand under Ginny's chin, making she got all possible height, she stumbled a few times and though Hooch looked disappointed every time she did so, she let her sit down for a rest. Draco did it flawlessly.

Bastard+

Thought Ginny as she sat and he practically flew past her, a smug smile on his face, which grew wider as he saw her watching.

I'm not impressed, I swear, no really, I'm not.+

She argued with the invisible being in her head, the Alter-Ginny.

Of course not, you just happen to have been watching him for the past five minutes with an awe-struck look on your face.

Damn it.+

She looked down as he sat next to her, one leg swung over the other, slouching, and resting his arms on the backs of the chairs beside his, which meant that he was dangerously close to having one arm around her. Her eyes widened slightly and was on the brink of moving further down the sofa when he distracted her.

"You're not too bad yourself, Weasley."

He said with a raised eyebrow, looking at her amusedly before watching the others. She didn't answer, and stared determinately in the other direction.

Patronising git.+

It was still a compliment, never had one of those before, have you?

Shut up.+

"Well, as we've progressed further than I'd planned, I will show you the range of outfits you can purchase."

Madame Hooch announced, leaving Neville in a tragic state and heaving a large black suitcase onto the teacher's table at the front as everyone gathered round.

"There is a shop in Hogsmeade that sells these kinds of clothes, and you can also buy most of the outfits I have here, though they're really just examples so you know what to look for. Now, here are some suits,"

After flicking her wand at some tables to bring them sliding over, she laid a few suits out and the boys, though trying not to show it, seemed interested. The suits looked more clean-cut than the dress robes, and though the colours were much plainer, mainly black and white, they looked much more…mature. Ginny heard Draco snort with contempt in the background, and she assumed that he didn't think the quality up to his standard, but she was too distracted by the appearing dresses to think into it. The girls immediately burst into hundreds of noises of approval and surged forwards to touch and examine the gorgeous dresses that Hooch had set out.

"Ooooh!"

"I could just see you in this!"

"Oh wow!"

"Look at that one!"

"If only I could afford it!"

And many other comments resounded around the table. Ginny herself had to admit that they were magnificent and laughed as Liza and her other friends put a few up to her body to see how they looked, but none of them were really her. They were either too high-necked, too short, too blue, too tight or too…too…just not her. Oh well, at least she had a reason to go shopping in Hogsmeade now. Now the shoes, they were a different matter. Despite her distaste for those typically girly things, these shoes were like no others. They were proper ballroom shoes, with high heels that she couldn't believe anyone could dance in and straps that criss-crossed over the foot and ankle, and some even a short way up the leg.

"Omigosh."

She stuttered, then covered her mouth quickly, looking round to see if anyone had heard her girly exclamation. As she was browsing them, a pair caught her eye and she couldn't tear her eyes from them. They were a beautiful frosted silver and the heel was at least 2 ½ inches, she would have to practise a lot to dance properly in them, but she was sure it was worth it.

"Now I would like you all to have your shoes with you for our next lesson, so that you can practise with the shape, but I expect you all to have turned them temporarily black in colour until the ball, so that you cannot be recognised by the shoes you wore to class. I know it's slightly awkward but the Headmaster is really cracking down on this 'hidden identity' thing. I assume you know the spell but if you don't then track me down before dinner. You are dismissed."

Ginny would track her down, but not to know the spell. Those shoes were hers.

"Those? They are fifty-nine galleons and six sickles."

Said Madame Hooch as she picked up a velvet bag with the treasured shoes on top.

"Fifty...!"

Ginny exclaimed but then steeled herself. She should've expected this, dancers accessories were always expensive and they were, truly worth it. But though she had the money it would take too much out of her budget and she would not be able to afford a decent dress, which she supposed was the most important thing, though it was with a grudge that she moved on to look at the rest of the shoes. There was another silver pair, though they were shiny and clearly a much cheaper copy of those she adored.

"And those?"

She asked, pointing.

"Eleven galleons nine."

She bit her lip.

But I really love those other...+

No, you can't afford them. You should get these half-decent ones before they're all gone.

Damn concience, can't do anything I want.+

Nope.

"I'll take them then please."

Handing over the coins, she took the cloth bag instead, glaring evilly at it as she left the room.

(A.N - I know I promised cringey moments! But I'm afraid some more meticulous planning has moved this chapter forwards a bit. So sorry, but at least you have motivation to read on! . )