Winter's Ball

October 2, Second Year

"George, what was with you today?" Indira asked her co-captain with a frown. Practice that evening had finished, and the team was taking off the gear and putting away their brooms before heading back to the castle.

Already, most of the players had headed back to the castle, eager to shower and get back to the warm comfort of their dormitory. Alex, however, preferred to linger, at least until George was done. The captain and her assistant were often the last to leave, usually because they were responsible for making sure everything was put away nicely. And since Alex's price for watching and sometimes participating in practice was helping out, he stayed too. Usually, John stayed so they could walk back together, but tonight he had gotten the stomach ache and had headed down to the Infirmary.

He didn't mind though. Besides, he could tell both George and Indira were impressed by how much he was willing to help out.

The Keeper, too, hadn't been doing so well the last week of practices. Alex didn't mention anything; George was still pretty good even when he wasn't playing the best. Indira, however, was insistent on making sure all her players were top-notch. And recently, George hadn't been meeting her standards.

George sighed as he unstrapped his knee pads. Meanwhile, Alex sat on one of the benches, idly wiping off a broom with a cloth.

"I don't think you'd be interested in the struggles of a fourteen year old boy, Indi," the fourth year Gryffindor said.

"Please," Indi snorted. "If anything, I'm even more interested now." She, too, sat on the bench, her eyebrows raised at George. "What's up."

George ran a hand through his hair. "I'm nervous about asking my friend to the Winter's Ball," he finally said. To this, Indi laughed, while Alex just stared.

"What's that?" He asked curiously.

"More importantly, who are you asking?" Indi said eagerly.

George looked to Alex, ignoring his captain. "I'm surprised you don't know," he said with a slight smile. "It's a minor dance for third and fourth years, you'll have to do it next year."

Alex cocked his head. "Why do they have a dance? Isn't everyone really really awkward?"

Indira chuckled while George just smiled. "The Winter's Ball is the younger and less formal version of the Yule Ball, which is only for fifth years and up."

"Ugh, I forgot I had to go to that," Indira scowled as George mentioned the Yule Ball.

"Who are you asking?" George said.

Indira laughed. "Oh, don't turn this on me. You still haven't told me who you want to ask! And besides, you know I have no interest in any of the boys in my year."

"You could ask someone younger," Alex offered slyly to the sixth year, to which George laughed.

"I'll probably go stag with Veronica or something," Indi shrugged, referring to one of her best friends, a fellow sixth year Gryffindor who sometimes commentated at Quidditch matches. "Anyway, George, who's the lucky girl?" She winked.

George turned red, which made Alex snicker. "You probably don't know her…"

"Stop avoiding the question!"

The fourth year sighed. "Martha Dandridge in Ravenclaw."

Alex, of course, had little knowledge of people in years other than his own, but Indira smirked. "Doesn't she play Quidditch? Isn't she a fifth year?"

George blushed harder. "She's young for her year," he defended, which made Indira giggle, but then her smile disappeared.

"You better ask her soon!"

George frowned. "I know! Time is running out, the ball's in two weeks!"

Indi scoffed. "Don't be silly! You need to ask her so you can stop stressing out and focus on Quidditch! Our first game is next Saturday." She stood up as George rolled his eyes and Alex laughed.

"Thanks for the advice."

Indira shoved her broom in the closet and grinned. "No problem." She started heading out, with Alex and John at her heels.

"What's so scary about it?" Alex asked. "Why do you even need to ask her?"

George shrugged. "You don't have to…"

"But Georgie loves her!" Indira crooned as she shut up the brooms and closed the Quidditch tent.

"I do not!" George scowled. "But trust me Alex…" he said, regaining his composure. "When you go to the Winter's Ball next year, there's gonna be a lot of stress, and a lot of drama."

(ooo)

October 25, Third Year

"Bloody hell," George stormed into the third year Gryffindor dormitories one evening and flopped onto one of the empty beds.

The four boys stared. Of course, Alex was there as well, trying to do homework and, as usual, getting distracted. The fifth year Keeper was friends with the boys, but there had never been an occasion when he'd come to their dorm.

"What-" Alex looked to his Quidditch mentor with wide eyes, but George cut him off.

"The sixth and seventh year prefects are forcing us fifth years to chaperone your bloody dance, that's what," George groaned, making Herc snort.

"What dance?" John asked, wrinkling his nose. "The Winter's Ball? People are already thinking about that? It's like two months away!"

George lifted his head from the bed with a sigh. "You boys realize that a lot of girls are expecting you to ask them to the ball, right?" John groaned.

"It's a big deal," Alex realized. "But we don't have to ask them to the ball, do we?" He frowned, trying to think of a girl in his year that he would bother taking.

"I saw a sign for zat," Laf remembered absentmindedly. "What does it mean?"

"The Winter's Ball is for third and fourth years," George sat up. "And now fifth year prefects too, I suppose…" he sighed. "I was supposed to schedule a Quidditch practice that day, too, since Indira's off to visit her parents…"

"I can't miss it!" Alex said.

John wrinkled his nose. "Quidditch practice sounds way better than a dance."

George shook his head. "It's not gonna happen if neither Indi nor I am there," he explained. "Hopefully we can get the field the next morning before our big match against Ravenclaw…"

"No one's answered my question!" John said. "Do we have to ask a girl? Do we even have to go?" The Hufflepuff looked absolutely disgusted by the thought, but Herc grinned.

"I can think of a couple girls I wouldn't mind taking," he mused, making Laf roll his eyes.

"You have to at least ask a girl to dance, trust me," George told the third years. "Otherwise, they'll come for you, and that's even worse."

John shook his head and flopped on the bed.

"Aw, don't worry," George comforted. "Girls really like Gryffindor boys, for some reason, they always chase me around, after all." He sounded sincere, but all four boys groaned.

"Stop bragging," Herc said.

"Yeah," Alex agreed. "Out of all of us, you're the only one of us actually reliable with ladies."

George's face looked confused, and everyone started laughing.

December 14, Third Year

"Well, well, if isn't Aaron Burr," Alex greeted. A glass of Pumpkin Juice was in his hands as music played through the Great Hall. The Winter's Ball had only just begun, and no one had actually gotten the courage to be the first to dance.

All in all, it was less of a ball and more of a standing-around-drinking-pumpkin-juice-awkwardly kind of gathering.

The Slytherin turned with raised eyebrows. "Alexander," he said. "I haven't seen you in awhile."

Alex nodded. "Yes, which is odd since we share a room. I suppose we don't talk as much as we should."

Aaron smirked. "And how much is that?"

Alex shrugged. "More, I guess?" There was a pause.

"Where are your friends?"

"Well, Herc and Laf are warming up to those Ravenclaw girls over there, and John just left to the bathroom. He said it was too awkward to handle."

The Slytherin laughed. "He's right, no one is dancing."

Alex was looking towards the dance floor. "No one was dancing," he corrected.

"Is that Angelica Schuyler?" Aaron asked in disbelief. "Dancing with George Washington?"

Alex shrugged. "I guess?" He took a sip of his pumpkin juice.

Aaron looked at him, wide-eyed. "Is this not surprising to you? Two of the most popular people in school might be an item?"

Alex nearly choked on his drink. "I'm pretty sure they're just friends, Aaron," he said with a smirk. "Why, are you jealous?" He teased.

The Slytherin didn't take the joke lightly. His cheeks flushed. "Please, everyone knows the Schuylers are one of the richest families in town. Every guy I've talked to would love to be an item with Angelica Schuyler, or even her sister."

Alex raised his eyebrows, surprised his friend would say such bold words.

"Not that Angelica lets any of them near her, or her sister," Aaron continued. "It's like she's sworn off boys or something, and is determined to protect her sister from the wrath of boys." Alex chuckled. "I'm surprised she even agreed to dance with George."

"They did it to get other people to dance," Alex said. "Look, it's already working." Indeed, a few bolder fourth years had gotten the courage to dance, and the dance floor was slowly filling up, with Angelica Schuyler and George Washington in the center.

"Still, Angelica Schuyler is the last girl I'd imagine any boy having success getting," Aaron shrugged.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?" he teased, but he was watching Angelica interestedly. Alex liked a challenge.

Aaron barked out laughter. "Like you could get a fifth year in one night," the boy scoffed, but Alex only smirked.

"Hey," Alex countered. "I bet I could get a dance from Angelica and her sister before the night is done." He grinned.

His fellow Slytherin rolled his eyes. "Yeah right."

"I'm serious," Alex smirked. "Which one?"

"Both," Aaron challenged after a second, his eyes narrowed slightly. "And no bets or anything, because you'll be famous by the end of the night if you can do it."

"Done," Alex said confidently, a smile spreading across his face..

Aaron scoffed. "Good luck with that," the Slytherin said, and then walked away.