I've been dying to write this chapter for a while now. Hope you all enjoy it!

P.S I'm loving to amazing comments I've been sent. Thank you so much for your support and feed back.

Chapter 11

- The Yule Ball -

Teddy fought to control his laughter, he had to look down to hide his smile. Harry and Ron were walking down the stairs towards him. Ron was wearing the dress robes Mrs Weasley had sent and looked absolutely ridiculous. There were frills everywhere and the fabric was a ghastly reddish-brown. Harry on the other hand looked quite dashing in his brand new dress robes. "Leave it alone!" Harry whispered under his breath to Ron who was tugging at one of the frills.

Teddy continued trying not to smile more than he needed to, but laughter was eating him up inside. "Oh, shove off Teddy!" Ron growled, noticing how hard he was trying to remain composed.

A small giggled escaped Teddy as he spoke. "Well, I'm not going to lie. It's awful."

"Wow, thanks Ted." Ron said sarcastically. "You could've at least tried lying."

"Would you have believed me if I had?" Ron ignored him and crossed his arms. Around them girls were walking down the stairs and were greeted by their dates. Teddy couldn't see Arkie yet as he glanced around the room. "How do you feel?" Harry asked.

"Hm?" He looked back at the others. "Oh. Fine, just fine."

"Full moon was okay then I'm guessing."

"Yeah, it was great." He lied. "And Madam Pomfrey gave me something for the headache this morning, but I'm not worried about a stupid headache or muscle pains." Teddy brushed his hands through his shaggy hair, he'd tried to do something nice with it but it always seemed to have a mind of its own.

"Forget your headaches!" Ron spat, obviously not in a good mood. "I look ridiculous!"

"Honestly, it isn't that bad." Teddy lied again.

"You just said it was earlier!"

He mumbled a small sorry before once again looking around for his date.

"Poor kid, bet she's alone in her room crying her eyes out."

Teddy turned back to Ron. "Who?"

"Hermione, of course. Come on, Ted. Why'd you think she wouldn't tell us who she's coming with?"

Teddy shrugged. "Because we'd take the mickey out of her if she did."

More girls were being escorted by their dates into the hall, still no sign of Arkie. "Because nobody asked her. I would have taken her myself if she weren't so bleeding proud." Teddy rolled his eyes.

"So, who'd you guys bring?"

Suddenly, two girls, twins he would've guessed, wearing matching orange and pink Indian-styled dresses, trotted towards them. "Hello, boys." One of them said. "Don't you look... dashing." She paused at the sight of Ron, looking like a an old butler from the 17th century. Teddy again had to struggle to keep his composure. He glanced one more time up the large stone staircase and paused.

Arkie stood at the top, looking at the crowd below. She was high up, but Teddy could've sworn she looked nervous as she searched for him. She looked gorgeous in her long, white sleeveless dress. Her skirt was covered in small dots of light, like fireflies, that twinkled brightly in the candle lit stairway. Her hands and ears were decorated with golden rings and earrings that brought out the gold flecks in her eyes, and her chestnut hair had been tied up in a beautiful bun that had been held together with a golden butterfly clasp.

He let out a breath of awe.

Arkie had almost ran to the Great Hall, stopping at the top of the stairs. From around the corner, her friends watching whispering her good lucks. She looked down at the crowd of students at the bottom of the stairs, yet she couldn't see Teddy.

Her heart was thumping widely in her chest.

What if he had left? What if because she was late he thought she wasn't coming?

She could hear whispers from her friends, yet was to scared to look away from the crowd. He wouldn't leave, Teddy wasn't like that. There was still time before Yule Ball began. Suddenly, she spotted him. He'd noticed her and was standing at the bottom of the stairs, beaming up her with his usual bright smile. His forest green eyes looked her up and down, he was admiring her!

Now Arkie truly understood what her friends meant when they talked about, 'looking for their Prince Charming'. She'd found hers, she knew it. There were barely any words to describe the feeling of joy that was glowing inside her as she walked down the steps towards him. His hair was shaggy as usual, yet she wouldn't want it any other way, and despite the small black circles under his eyes and his slightly pale complexion, he looked wide awake and happy.

She'd worried that during the ball he would be too tired or in pain to dance after the full moon. She'd seen him like that a few times in the Great Hall, where he had walked in looking exhausted. But tonight he didn't seem to care.

On the last few stairs he politely held his hand out to her, which she gladly took, sliding her hand into his. The two looked at each other for what felt like hours before he finally spoke. "You look so beautiful."

"Thanks," she blushed. Arkie couldn't remember the last time she'd blushed. "I'm sorry I'm so late. The girl's offered to do my hair, and I didn't know they'd take so long." She glanced up at her friends who were watching them from behind the staircase railing. Teddy waved to them yet none of them waved back, instead they stood there, shooting him icy cold glares. Arkie knew that her friends did not fully support her decision to go with Teddy Lupin to the dance, and couldn't understand why she had turned down so many boys before he'd asked. They'd made that perfectly clear when they confronted her in Astronomy class. They obviously still weren't happy with her choice as they turned around and stormed off.

Secretly, Arkie had hoped Teddy would ask her, which was why she'd turned down the other boys offers. She had made a pact with her friends, that if he hadn't asked her the night before the ball, she would attempt to find a last minute replacement. But then he'd finally asked her.

"Well, your here now. And they did an amazing job. By the way, I wanted to give you this." He held up a long silver chain, on the end of the chain was a small silver star.

"It's beautiful." She said, as she gently put it on.

Arkie smiled so hard her cheeks began to hurt. Then she began to notice others looking at them. Students, from all three schools, walked past with their dates, some shot her mean looks, others simply ignored her. It was strange, she'd never been looked at like that. It was almost, exhilarating. She then spotted Harry and Ron standing with their dates, their mouths were both gaping open.

Teddy followed Arkie's gaze, to see what she was looking at and saw his friends looking dumbfounded. They obviously hadn't believed him the other day when he'd claimed to be taking Arkie to the dance. Teddy's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. "Guys, this is Arkie. My date."

Ron's mouth still hung open as Harry shook hands with Arkie. "It's nice to meet you."

"Pleasure to meet you too, Harry. You look great, you too Ron." She said, as if she barely noticed how absurd Ron's dress robes were. Teddy liked that about her, she always treated everyone as an equal.

"You can drop the polite act." He grumbled in a jealous fashion that made his date glare angrily at him.

"No, I mean it. Very dashing. Padma is one lucky girl."

Teddy turned around to see Professor McGonagall walking towards them, looking a little flustered. "Here you are Potter. Are you and Miss Patil ready?"

Harry now looked just as flustered. "Ready professor?"

"To dance," she explained. "It's tradition that the three champions, or in this case four, are the first to dance. Surely I told you that."

Harry shook his head, looking extremely nervous. "No."

Professor McGonagall straightened her cloak. "Oh well, now you know. Oh!" The Professor caught sight of Ron and his dress robes, her hand went reflexively out fiddling with one of the frills, before seeing there was nothing she could do to fix to ensemble. "As for your Mr Weasely, you may proceed into the great hall with Miss Patil. You too Teddy, you and Arkie go inside."

Teddy held out his arm, which Arkie took with a small giggle as they walked towards the Great Hall. Teddy could see from the corner of his eye that Ron and his date looked less happy or keen to go inside.

The Great Hall had been completely transformed in less than a day's time. The long tables had been replaced with circular ones surrounded by blue cushioned seats. Ice sculptures decorated each table which was covered with all sorts of delicious foods. A stage had been set up at the very back of the hall, along with a large dance floor. Snow fell on top of the students, the walls were covered in frost and icicles hung from the ceiling.

A snowflake landed on Teddy's cheek and disappeared, yet it wasn't cold, in fact he'd hardly felt it. "Wow!" Arkie gasped beside him, looking up at the ceiling and holding her hand which a snowflake softly landed on and evaporated instantly.

Suddenly, all the students parted leaving a path for the champions, who all came walking into the Hall with their partners, towards the dance floor. Teddy watched giving a reassuring smile and clapping in congratulations to Harry and the other champions. Cedric Diggory had Cho Chang on his arm, Fleur Delacour was escorted by Roger Davies and Victor Krum had brought... Hermione!

"Is that Hermione Granger, with Viktor Krum?" Teddy hadn't noticed Ron and Padma standing beside him.

Ron pulled a face that could only be described in one word, jealous. "No. Absolutely not."

Teddy and Arkie, still holding hands, followed everyone to the dance floor as the four champions prepared to begin the first dance. The conductor tapped his baton signalling for the musicians to get into position. Slowly they began to play an elegant, yet happy melody that the champions all dance in time to. Teddy noticed Harry looking a bit awkward as he lifted his partner in the air, but he refused to let himself giggle.

The students cheered as Dumbledore took Professor McGonagall's hand and joined in with the dance.

Soon students, beginning with Neville and Ginny, were also joining in. Teddy turned to Arkie. They exchanged excited glances before gliding onto the dance floor.

At first Teddy struggled to match the music's pace, but after a few seconds he was able to naturally sway with the music. Arkie gracefully spun around in his arms, he skirt expanding beautifully lift a white mist. She returned her hand to his shoulder, still stepping in time with the beat. Snow fell down upon them making the whole dance seem even more magical. Arkie glanced up and gasped.

Above them the Hogwarts ghosts were also dancing together. Teddy watched them before looking back at Arkie. Their eyes met, glowing gold and forest green. Everything seemed to slow down around him and he caught himself leaning towards her slowly. Suddenly, the music went up on a high note and Teddy quickly attempted to lift her off the ground. The action was slightly behind time.

He blushed bright red but Arkie just laughed enjoying the sensation of being lifted off her feet then being gracefully lowered to the ground. Together they spun around the dance floor. Teddy felt a great deal of disappointment as the song ended and they stood facing each other in the center of the dance floor, panting mixed with joyful giggles.

"I should get something to drink, you want anything?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, just some punch please." The two moved off the dance floor and Teddy walked off to scoop them some punch. He noticed Ron sitting next to the punch bowl, his arms crossed. Teddy tried to approach him, without looking as happy as he felt. "You okay, Ron."

Ron grumbled something in a low voice. His partner, Padma, was standing by herself on the side of the hall. "You should go dance with Padma. Trust me, it's worth it."

The freckled boy grumbled again before standing up and marching towards Padma, who Teddy felt extremely sorry for as he began to scoop the punch into two cups. He glanced up halfway, looking around for Arkie. Once he found her he carried the cups carefully in her direction, but stopped and someone began to talk to her.

His insides did a flip and his eyes narrowed towards Draco. Teddy stood behind one of the table's ice sculptures and tried listening in on their conversation.

"Are you sure you don't want one dance with me?" Draco offered with a crooked smile.

"I'm sorry Draco, but as I told you said yesterday, Teddy already asked me and I'm here to dance with him." So, Malfoy had attempted to ask Arkie to the dance, a smug smile lit his lips. "Besides, what about your date, Draco? Pansy."

"She's too busy stuffing her face." Draco scoffed. "And surely you aren't enjoying yourself, dancing with that dog. I mean, he dances just as well as he would during a full moon, and looks as though he's about to pass out." Draco said, mimicking him dancing, his hands curled into claws. Teddy looked down in embarrassment. Did he really look like that?

"Actually, he's a brilliant dancer. Besides, his dancing isn't why I said yes." Arkie voice was sharp, her eyes burning like the hot embers of a dying fire. "I said yes because he's kind, sweet and doesn't tease people because they're different. He is ten times braver and more caring than you'll ever be, Malfoy. That's why. Now if you don't mind, I need to go find my date." She said storming past the gasping blonde haired Slytherin.

"Arkie, you okay?" Teddy said, walking up to her. She gave an annoyed sigh.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just Draco being Draco."

"I understand." He held out her cup to her which she took with a smile.

"Thanks, Teddy. So far this night's been amazing. I'm just sorry Draco's gone a ruined it."

Teddy put on a brave face. "No he hasn't. Don't give him the satisfaction of that." He put his cup down on one of the tables, the next song was about to begin. "Join me for another dance?"

Arkie took another sip before nodding. "That'd be nice."