The First Task passed without much fanfare; that is, for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry had been busy with finding a spell or enchantment that could help with his reading and writing, Hermione had been both helping him and perfecting a charm she'd come up with over the summer, and Ron had been taking notes and starting homework for the three of them.

Ron, however, had another, more pressing matter on his hands: the twins.

He stopped Harry on their way out of History of Magic, waving Hermione on with the request of "save us a place in the Great Hall, yeah?"

"Listen, Harry," he began. "What did you do to the twins?"

"I didn't -" Harry said, affronted, before looking at Ron's face. He brought his hand up to the back of his neck and rubbed it. "I found out what happened at the World Cup, alright? That no one realized you were missing until after Portkeying back to the Burrow. And that's not right, Ron!"

"Yeah, maybe," Ron stared hard at Harry. "But that doesn't excuse you torturing them!"

"I didn't torture them! Just, just roughed them up a bit, that's all."

"Alright, but you've gotta apologize to them."

"Not until they apologize to you." Harry jutted his chin out.

"No, Harry. Maybe they do need to say sorry -" and here Ron was interrupted by a muttered they do. "But you need to apologize as well."

"Yeah, alright," Harry said. "I was only looking out for you."

"And I appreciate that, honest! I'd just rather you not do it that way, y'know?"

"Alright. I - I know that wasn't the best way to do it."

"Now go tell it to Fred and George." Ron looked down the hallway and grinned. "C'mon. If we don't hurry, Malfoy and his cronies will take all the good stuff."

With December fast approaching, all of Hogwarts, along with the visiting schools, had a new thing to worry about. Although the vast majority of the students couldn't go to the Yule Ball (just for Seventh Years, and there was talk the punch would be spiked), there was the usual rush of planning and packing for the winter holiday.

There were new plans, as well. In an attempt to appease the younger years, the professors had made arrangements for the students planning to stay at Hogwarts. The First and Second Years would have the Common Rooms to themselves for the evening, which would be open to all Houses. The Third through Sixth Years were allowed to stay out in Hogsmeade for the night.

At the moment, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated around a table at Three Broomsticks, each nursing a Butterbeer.

"But don't you think," Hermione was saying, "that it would've been neat to go to the Ball?"

"Maybe," Ron said. "I don't much relish the idea of finding dress robes though, let alone getting a date."

"That's the thing!" Harry spoke up. "If we couldn't get a date, we could go together! There wouldn't be any pressure of asking someone, or the need to, well," and here Harry leaned in with a shudder, "kiss."

Hermione laughed. "You don't necessarily need to kiss the person you take, even if it's a date! I see what you mean, though."

"Yeah," Ron said. "That'd be neat."

guys! i'm back :) turns it was, what, a year ago? more? since i last updated this story? whoops.

ugh so i really wanted to have the yule ball but then i remembered that it was supposed to only be for seventh years (or younger, if they were asked) but then harry was chosen so they had to make it for fourth year and up. but still. i wanted them to go! anyway we don't know what happened with the younger years during the yule ball so i took some liberty.

oh! and the reason harry 'shudders' about the thought of kissing is because he's ace in this fic. and though i know that plenty of ace people are fine with kissing, but i am ace and i am Not.