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Disclaimer: Some parts are from The Goblet of Fire, with a couple of changes

Yule Ball

"Potter, the champions and their partners —"

"What partners?" asked Ash, a question mark appearing over her head.

Professor McGonagall looked suspiciously at her, as though she thought she was trying to be funny. "Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your dance partners."

Ash's insides seemed to curl up and shrivel. "…Dance partners?" she felt herself going pale. "I don't dance," she said quickly.

"Oh yes, you do," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."

Ash had a sudden image of herself in a sort of frilly dress Aunt Petunia always wore to Uncle Vernon's work parties, accompanied by a boy in a top hat and tails. She shivered. "I'm not dancing," she said.

"It is traditional," said Professor McGonagall firmly. "You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter."

"But — I don't —"

"You heard me, Potter," said McGonagall in a very final sort of way.

Ash collapsed onto her bed, exhausted. Ever since the Yule Ball's announcement, she'd been approached by several boys, hoping to be her date. Of course, she blushed and politely declined. She didn't really know any of them, and the thought of attending the Ball with a stranger made her feel uncomfortable.

Besides that, there was another issue she had to focus on. Her emerald eyes wandered around her room, landing on the package that'd been delivered to her a day before Professor McGonagall's announcement. The package contained a dress, gloves, sandals, and a note. The note read: 'Be my date?'

Ash wanted to decline, but she had no idea who the sender was and something in her protested the thought of declining whoever sent the package. She bit her lip, eyes flickering with indecision.

A few minutes passed before Ash made her choice. She pushed off her bed and started the search for a quill and parchment.

Ash gulped as she looked at her reflection. Her normally messy ebony hair was sleek and tame, stylized into wavy pigtails, each tied by a silver-black ribbon. She was wearing the clothes her date sent; a green Christian Dior dress with black elbow-length gloves and sea-green low wedge sandals.

Ash still didn't know who her date was; however, she'd find out tonight. She closed her eyes and breathed in before exhaling and opening her eyes. Confidently and gracefully, she turned and headed towards the door, ready to face the crowd.

Ash stood in the shadows, eyes darting around the entrance hall, trying to figure out who her mysterious date was. The entrance hall was packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd, trying to find one another.

Parvati found her sister, Padma, and led her over to Ron. Ron was looking around before quickly paling and hiding behind Padma, because Fleur Delacour was passing by, looking stunning in robes of silver-gray satin, and accompanied by the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies. When they'd disappeared, Ron stood straight again and stared over the heads of the crowd.

A group of Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which in Ash's opinion made him look like a vicar. Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's arms. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green; they resembled moss-colored boulders, and neither of them, Ash noted, had managed to find a date.

Ash, too immerged with scanning the crowd again, didn't notice a figure approach her. She jumped as she felt a poke to her side and spun around to glare at the perpetrator, only to come face-to-face with a bouquet of lilies. She blinked and lost her glare, slowly reaching out to take the bouquet. "Th-thank you…" She stuttered, looking down. "Um, I suppose you're…?" she trailed off.

The figure shifted a little before replying. "Yes, but only if you still accept…" Ash didn't know why, but his voice sounded familiar to her. "I-I mean…" Ash felt her lips twitch up as she listened to her date stutter. She closed her eyes, gathering her Gryffindor courage, and opened them, looking into the sapphire-colored eyes of one Sylias Slytherin.

Distantly, Ash heard Professor McGonagall's voice calling, "Champions over here, please!"

Ash smiled at him, blushing slightly. "I still accept, Syl." Her emerald eyes sparkled with joy. "But afterwards, you owe me a date." Sylias' sapphire eyes widened a bit. Slowly, her glove-covered hand reached out and intertwined with his. "After all," she grinned mischievously at him, "you didn't ask me face-to-face."

Published: Dec. 25, 2014

Pic Links

Dress: upload . wikimedia wikipedia / commons / 6 / 6b / Christian_Dior_Dress . jpg

Shoes: ak1 . ostkcdn images / products / 9036332 / Bonnibel-Felice-2-Womens-T-Strap-Gem-Back-Zipper-Low-Wedge-Sandals-P16234978 . jpg