I unfortunately do not own the world of Harry Potter. That honor belongs to J. K. Rowling.

I would just like to say a quick thanks to Allen Pitt, amazingtofu, panneler-san, Murphy Annen Thiamine, AnonymousMSQ, Loonynamelass, Regin, Baby Doll24, and bookworm182.

This is my first fan-fic. Hope you like it! (And if you haven't guessed by now, reviews are greatly appreciated!)

I am writing 5 other fan-fics at this time as well. If you could please check out my profile and check them out, I would greatly appreciate that. Thanks! :)

Chapter 43:

The Yule Ball

Once the first task ended, everyone was a lot more relaxed around Hogwarts. Especially after the announcement that the Yule Ball, a traditional holiday dance held on Christmas Eve whenever the Triwizard Tournament is happening, was coming up. Now, as Ariella wondered the halls, all she saw were girls and boys in clumps together. The girls whispering and giggling, and the boys watching warily, suddenly nervous around the female gender.

However, Ariella once again, didn't fit into the majority of the population. Instead of comparing dresses with other girls, she silently took her notes. As her classmates' minds wandered off topic to 'who should I ask?' or 'how should I do my hair?', Ariella's mind was still replaying the conversation that she had heard between the Golden Trio a few weeks prior, even now.

Theodore had said that according to the records, the law that bound her had died out centuries ago, which was most likely the reason that no one had put two and two together yet, and figured out her situation. But if it died out centuries ago, did that mean that it wasn't allowed to be used? Ariella shook her head wearily. Because while she hoped that this might be the case, she seriously doubted it. She had the marks and charms binding her to prove it. She sighed, and in a way, she realized then, she was really glad that people didn't know of her true status. Because if they did, then maybe she wouldn't be friends with Theo right now. She smiled at the thought, and continued on her way, passing as she went the clusters of whispering teenagers, and she sighed again.

Ariella knew she wouldn't be going to the Yule Ball, though whether that be simply because she wasn't permitted, or as Draco had put it, ("an attempt to ruin and corrupt the evening for those of us who deserve a night of partying". [At which she rolled her eyes]) or simply because she wasn't going to be asked.

And for once, the young girl found herself okay with the order not to attend a party. They usually meant lots of work for her. And she knew for a fact that she was falling behind in her schoolwork, (no thanks to a certain blond) so perhaps she could use that night to catch up.

As she reached the Common Room, she found her friend in a corner, reading, but as she got closer, she realized that his eyes had a dazed look to them.

"Theo? Are you alright?" she asked, and he jumped, surprised at her sudden appearance.

"Yeah, I – I'm fine." He stuttered. Ariella looked unconvinced. Her friend never acted like this.

"Your sure? Come on Theo, I know you better than that. Something's bothering you," she said, sitting on the arm of the chair.

Her friend was silent for a moment. His head was in his hands, and for what she thought must be the first time, he was showing his emotions, revealing to her what he was really feeling. (Not that she couldn't pick up on his emotions before. But this just made her feel better; knowing now that he completely trusted her. Enough to tell her/allow her to see these things about him. Either that, or he was just really tired. But she hoped it was the former.)

Finally, he said, his voice low,

"I was asked to the dance."

Ariella's heart skipped a beat for a moment as his words sunk in. Then she did something she didn't think she had ever done before. She squealed, making Nott look at her for a moment as if she was crazy, before returning to his previous position.

"Congratulations!" she said, and she meant it too.

"Who asked you?" she asked.

"Daphne Greengrass." He replied. And for some reason, he still seemed to be sulking.

"She's a nice girl. I can see her asking you." Ariella said. (Even if she wasn't particularly nice to her personally, she hadn't actually done anything to make Ariella hate her. [Like some other people had done.])

"Wait a minute. You're not mad?" Theo asked, turning to look at her, surprised.

"No, why would I be?" Ariella asked, confused at her friend's question.

"Because I thought, well, maybe if you really wanted to go, I could persuade Malfoy to let you go with me, just as friends of course. And besides, if you can't go, I don't know if I want to - "

"Theodore Nott! Do you mean to tell me you turned her down?" Ariella asked incredulously, interrupting him.

"Well, not really. I just told her I'd get back to her." Theo said, starting to shrink back under his friend's glare.

"Go find her right now, and tell her that you'd love to go with her!" she demanded.

"Ar – are you sure? I mean – "

"I'm sure Theo." Ariella said softly.

"But thank you. You really didn't have to do that for me." She said, her voice filled with gratitude.

"I had to see if you wanted me to try, didn't I?" he asked, and she smiled.

"Theo, the chances of you persuading Draco are slim to none. And besides, I'm just getting more and more behind in my work with all of his recent orders." She explained.

"Honestly. You go and have a great time, and make sure to tell me all about it the following day, all right?" she continued.

Slowly, Theo nodded. At that moment, a large group of Slytherin fourth years entered, including both Draco and Daphne.

"Now go get her!" she said, pushing her nervous friend up from his seat while avoiding Draco's glare. She took Nott's seat, and smiled as she watched Daphne's expression change from one of worry to one of joy.

The night of the Yule Ball came quickly enough for the nervous and excited students of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang.

At around five o'clock in the afternoon, (why so early, Ariella had no idea) the girls started filing in to start preparing for the evening. She stayed in the dormitory still, not wishing to go down to the library just yet. She watched from over the top of her book, and from the corners of her eyes the girls go through various stages of primping. Other than the occasional glare, sneer, or snide remark, (mostly from Pansy) she mostly went unnoticed.

At around seven-fifteen, forty-five minutes before the event started, Ariella began packing up her materials. But as she reached the door, hand outstretched to push it open, a soft voice called her back. She turned to see whom had called her name, and found herself face to face with none other than Daphne Greengrass. The fourth year girl was standing before her, looking slightly nervous, (a trait most Slytherins, particularly the girls, didn't usually show), and already looking beautiful.

"Oh! Er, hi Daphne. Did you want something?" Ariella asked, confused, and on guard.

"I just wanted to say thank you," the Greengrass girl said, much to the surprise of her classmate. Everyone else in their dormitory had stopped what they were doing to watch the two girls.

"I know that you were the reason why Theodore didn't give me a straight answer right away." She continued.

"I – You're welcome, I guess. I'm just sorry that I stood in your way." Ariella replied, stunned.

"Anyway, I'd better go. Have a good time tonight, Daphne." She said, turning away, getting ready to push open the door once more. But as she was about to, Daphne asked another question.

"I'm going to assume by now that you're not going tonight. Did I ruin your chance at going?" she asked, making Ariella stop in her tracks, but she didn't respond for a moment.

"No, you didn't. Theo only asked me as a friend because no one else had asked me yet, nor was anyone going to. But even if someone else had asked me, I most likely wouldn't be going. I guess you could say I've been banned from attending the ball tonight." She said, searching for the right words. When her classmate just nodded, Ariella left, pondering the confusing and unusual conversation she had just had.

The Lyons girl was so enveloped in her thoughts as she walked, head down, towards the library that it took a last minute stop short in order to avoid crashing into a certain black-haired Gryffindor.

"Oh! Sorry Harry! I – You look nice," she said. Harry's cheeks reddened, and Ariella's seemed to copy as Harry's gaze fell over her.

"Er – thanks. You look...um..."

"Normal?" Ariella supplied.

"Uh, yeah?" Harry responded, not sure if this was the right thing to say. Ariella laughed.

"Good," she said.

"I – I'm not going tonight." She said, responded to his puzzled look.

"So who are you going with?" she asked, trying to change subjects.

"Pavarti Patil. And why aren't you going?" Harry asked. She sighed.

"No one asked me," she said with a shrug. "And you could say that I can't." she continued, but with a noted of finality that Harry, though confused, knew not to question her on the subject.

"Have a good night Harry. You deserve a night off." She said, before walking past him, leaving a very confused Potter boy.

After two and a half hours of work, she was finally caught up on (almost) all her work. Sighing, she heaved her bag over her shoulder, and started making her way back to the Slytherin Common Room.

As she reached the Great Hall, she stopped and leaned against the wall, taking in the various smells and sounds coming from inside. What she wouldn't give to have been able to go, for someone to have invited her for real. But, she realized sighing, she would just add those two things to the list of never going to happen things.

Pushing off from the wall, she was about to start moving again when the doors opened, and out came Draco Malfoy…and he was alone. Thinking fast, she seized the moment, and called out to her young master, who turned, eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked upon seeing her.

"I just wanted to see how everyone looked," she said. Draco nodded, still suspicious, but knew she hadn't gone through those doors. If she had, he would have immediately known about it.

"Well, you've seen. Now you can leave." He said, turning away, and walking fast.

"Draco!" she said, running to catch up with him, and then planting herself in his path once she did so.

"Why are you so against everything I do and say?" she asked.

"I don't have to answer to you," he said, brushing past her.

"Oh, but you'll change who you are at the simple request of your uncaring Father?"

Draco spun around.

"Don't you dare talk about my Father like that!" he said angrily.

"What happened to the Draco I knew? You went from not caring at all, to caring, to suddenly being totally against me!" she said. By now the two where face-to-face.

"Drakey? Dra – Oh! What do you want?" A sickeningly familiar voice said, interrupting them. Yet neither master nor servant moved.

"When you have an answer, let me know," Ariella said, her voice hard, before glaring once at Pansy, and brushing past Draco, who just stared after her a moment, and wondered if she could possibly be right. Or worse, if his Father could possibly have been wrong.

Happy One Year Anniversary to this story! Yay! Thank you guys so much!

Anything you recognize is from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Thanks to all who are reading, and liking it. If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please feel free to review/private message me. Also, if you have any ideas at all, or would like to see something happen, let me know, and I'll consider putting them into a chapter. Thanks! ~ Leanora