The next several weeks once again settled into a nice routine, Harry's morning was back to homework, afternoon working on the clue for the second task, and the evenings were spent with Daphne, either tutoring or just hanging out, playing a pickup game of quidditch, though the weather soon put an end to those, or practice duelling. The duelling club was still on, and Harry helped supervise that on Wednesday evenings. He had mostly taken over supervising the second years, where he got to work with Daphne's sister Astoria. Daphne would watch and help out, becoming his unofficial assistant.

Most things were going well, potions was getting better thanks to Daphne, and Harry was now able to spend more time with his ritual book. It was getting more confusing, and Harry felt he was missing something while reading. He had moved on to the chapter discussing a couple of rituals, one was adopted by the Romans from another group and split a body of water allowing someone to walk between the parted portions. It sounded like something he had learned in the muggle world, but he could not remember where.

The only thing that was bothering him was the golden egg. He had been given his own after the first task and told it held a clue to the second, but on opening it all he heard was wailing. He tried as many interpretation spells he knew of, but none had worked. Harry was convinced that it was some kind of language as it fluctuated, but Harry had no idea of what language. Certainly not human.

However, his studies into the egg were put on hold after he was called to the Highmaster's cabin one afternoon. Upon entering he found Viktor there again. Great another meeting about the tournament.

"I am notifying you both that you will need to lead the opening dance during the Yule Ball that will be taking place for the tournament." Viktor seemed to take the news in stride, but Harry was quite nervous. He could dance slightly, his aunt had made sure of it, but he was extremely nervous doing so. And...He just realised he would need to ask someone to the ball itself. The Highmaster mentioned some more things, but Harry paid little attention, he was far too concerned with who he would ask, and how. Soon he heard the Highmaster dismiss him and Viktor. Walking out he did not know what to do.

He eventually found himself sitting with Klaus, who had laughed at his nervousness. "Ah, the Raven is scared of asking a girl out? Why not ask that one you are around constantly. The Blonde." Harry had been thinking of asking Daphne, but how?

Several days passed, and he had yet to work up the courage. He knew that Klaus had ended up asking a Beauxbaton girl named Alice. Klaus had just walked up to the girl at lunch one day and asked. It had taken a bit for someone to translate for the girl, but she had smiled and agreed to accompany him. Harry wished he had that courage. He had watched some of the other champions ask their dates as well. Fleur asked a Ravenclaw boy, Viktor asked Potter's friend Hermione, which Harry was slightly shocked by, and Jacques had asked Marcsa.

Finally Harry worked up the nerve and approached Daphne after a duelling club session and asked.

"Hey Daphne?"

"Yes?"

"Umm...well...wouldyouliketogototheyuleballwithme?" Harry's nerves had caused him to spit the question out. Daphne had a confused look on her face, and when she realised what he asked she smiled.

"Of course we are going together. Why do you think no one has approached you? I made it quite clear to all that we were going together." This shocked Harry. How did she do that? But, it did not matter, no, she said yes and Harry was ecstatic.

Harry had written home to get his dress robes sent, and found Milsey had been waiting for him the next day with said robes. She said she would make sure they were in proper condition for the ball and popped away.

The rest of December passed without incident. Harry had begun practising a new chain that involved a powerful blasting curse, a body binder, two disarms, and an exploding charm that targeted the ground beneath someone. So far it was going alright, but the constant repetition of the chain to make sure it flowed nicely was taking some time. He had also started on simple cross-species transfigurations, which while not terribly hard, were tedious in nature. One needed to be very careful, as much could go wrong. Lastly Harry had begun to practise a new spell, Melenchalad, which essentially casted lightning. Harry was only allowed to do so under the watch of either Professor Selwyn or Highmaster Kirillovich, and he was not allowed to show others. To practise it they had first secured permission from Professor Dumbledore and would practise in a huge classroom deep in the dungeons. So when the break began it was quite a welcome reprieve.

Said reprieve was not at first as relaxing as Harry had hoped, for the day of the ball, he became quite nervous. It took Klaus and Havel both to assure him that he would not trip and fall thus shaming Durmstrang, himself, and most worryingly Daphne. Milsey arrived and helped him get his robes on, and made sure no wrinkles were present. His robes were a black, with silver raven embroidery along the edges and down the centre.

Making his way to the castle, he and the other champions waited outside the Great Hall. Soon the other champions' dates arrived. Harry could tell that Henry was quite shocked when Hermione arrived and moved to Viktor's side. Marcsa looked radiant in a dark red dress and greeted Harry before moving to speak with Jacques. Eventually Daphne arrived and Harry was speechless. She was in black dress that had a pale blue lining that brought out her eyes and went well with Harry's own robes. As she approached she had an eyebrow raised asking the question.

"I-uh-you look, ah, great!" Viktor laughed and Marcsa's voice could be heard saying, "smooth" in her accented English. "Ah, sorry. You look stunning. Truly." Daphne had been smirking since he started, but at the end she seemed to give a truly pleased smile. Soon Professor McGonagall came out and organised the champions into two lines. Hogwarts first, as they were the host school, followed by Beauxbatons, and then Durmstrang. They would move to the middle of the room spread out in a line and bow to the judges. Once the judges bowed back they would open the ball with a dance.

Harry looked over at Daphne, who smiled and whispered, "Don't worry so much. One would think you would rather face the dragon again." Harry chuckled and felt his nerves slightly relax.

The doors to the hall opened and it began. Following behind Jacques, Harry and Daphne moved gracefully. Harry knew not to hurry his movements due to his nerves, but to walk slowly, which was made easier with Daphne at his side. Soon they moved out to the side and stood next to Marcsa. The champions then bowed to the high table, where the professors bowed back.

Music then started and each couple started to move. Harry's nerves picked back up, but looking at Daphne and watching her smile, helped. Soon Aunt Dorea's training kicked in and Harry found his movements becoming more fluid. By the end of the song he was feeling much better.

At the end of the song, the Champions moved off and the dinner began. The champions were seated with the professors, and Harry found that he was sitting next to Mad-Eye Moody and Daphne had Professor Snape on her side.

"Ah, Black. Quite the dancer! Believe it or not, but before I lost my leg I could dance quite well. Never did though, too easy for someone to come up behind you!" This was going to be an interesting meal. Though Daphne seemed to be at ease with Snape.

"Ah, that's so. My aunt made sure that I knew how from when I began living with her. Though it does help to have a smashing partner." At the last comment he gave Daphne's hand a gentle squeeze. She smiled at the compliment. For the most part the meal was fine, Mad-Eye would occasionally ask about his training and what spells he knew. At the end Harry nearly had a heart attack as after one question from Moody about one of the chains he had used, Snape had gotten involved when Moody had questioned about it being similar to one of Snape's. Snape had turned and looked Harry in the eyes. At first the man stuttered and then answered. After he spoke to Harry.

"Very interesting eyes you have there Black. Peculiar shade of green. They remind me of an old schoolmate. Who did you say your mother was?"

"Emily Rosier, sir."

"Hmm...I remember her. She was a few years younger, but nice enough. I believe she had brown eyes, no? Regulus had grey eyes himself."

"Ah, she did. She always said I had inherited her aunt's eyes. Can't recall which."

"Hmm." Thankfully the man left it at that. Harry knew that he had inherited her eyes, but he did not believe that she was friends with Snape. Soon after the meal ended and Harry decided to ask Daphne to another dance. After a while Daphne dragged him over to speak with Tracey and Blaise. Everyone complimented each other on their attire. Soon the four were laughing and joking around. They eventually moved out to the courtyard for some fresh air. Harry noticed Henry, Weasley, and Hermione further away. The three seemed to be arguing and as soon as Viktor appeared Hermione grabbed his hand and dragged him inside for a dance. Harry couldn't help but smile, it seemed the Weasley was not doing well with Viktor asking his friend to the ball.

Soon Harry found himself back dancing with Daphne, which they did for most of the remainder of the evening. As the night wound down he escorted Daphne back to the Slytherin dorms. Once at the entrance Harry decided he would push his bravery and leaned in to give her a kiss. Daphne leaned in as well and soon Harry's brain stopped working. All of his thoughts were consumed with the kiss, and it was soon over. Daphne soon leaned back, smirked and then entered the Slytherin rooms. Harry was left there standing for several moments. Once his mind caught back up a grin formed on his face and Harry made his way back to the ship.