DISCLAIMER: THE WORLD OF HARRY POTTER BELONGS TO JK. ROWLING.

So as I have mentioned earlier, the Yule ball was coming up and Laura and Stephanie were all set…except…

" Stephanie, I am having second thoughts about going with Lee…" the girls were sitting in their dorm room discussing the upcoming ball on the weekend. The boys were out somewhere-- in fact…they seemed to be rather secretive lately, Laura knew Fred was planning something major along with George and Lee, after all, they were the Prankster Gods of Hogwarts, so it was only normal, but Laura had a feeling Fred was planning something for Stephanie. Guess we shall see.

" Ok Laura, spill, what's on your mind?"

"Well, you know how I am going with him just as friends, just so he can get that one girl.."

" The blonde ravenclaw?"

" Yeah, that one. Well what am I going to do the rest of the dance, because you will be with Fred, probably confessing your love," at that comment Stephanie blushed and smiled, "…so what will I do for the rest of the night?"

" Ok, Laura, first of all don't worry, you have the most BEAUTIFUL robe I have ever seen, and I am sure you will have a good time, just wait and see."

Soon, it was the day of the Ball, and the girls were upstairs getting ready. They hadn't talked much to Harry and Hermione, but whenever they saw each other, they all had a warm friendship smile, because they knew they were all connected, a strong bond had been formed between the friends. Stephanie worked wonders with hair and makeup, making it subtle but completely brought out one's beauty. By 8:00 the girls were ready. A buzz ran through the school, because obviously it was an open ball for the 3 wizarding schools and guests, so it was completely out of the ordinary.

Downstairs George, Fred and Lee all wore nervous/excited grins as to what awaited them.

" Okay George, so do you have it all set up for 9 o'clock?"

" Yup, got it all planned out."

" Good good. How about you Lee, you got the 'surprise' at 11:00 ready?"

" Yeah, but what if the girls suspect anything?"

" Don't worry Lee," said Fred with a confident smirk, " I have the perfect way to distract Stephanie, and as for Laura, just wait and see…it will be BRILLIANT!"

The boys were talking in a little circle when Stephanie first came down. Laura was still upstairs looking for an extra pin to keep the fabric in place.

" Hem hem." Still the boys didn't look up, " Hem! Hem!"

" Shut up will ya…woah… Stephanie…you look…"

" Thanks a lot Frederick," said Stephanie slightly sarcastically.

" No no no, you misunderstand my dear old brother, " chimed in George to help Fred out, " What he means to say is that your beauty surpasses all words, the way your voice floats above all others, the way.."

" Stuff it George. You look positively …beyond words." Said Fred at last. As Stephanie was walking over to him, Laura came down the stairs, tripping ever so slightly on the last step, that she came flying down, so that Lee had to catch her just in time. " Woah there you ok? Falling in Love with me are we?"

" Very funny Lee."

As she straightened up, all the boys had to take a breath to let the sight of Laura sink in. Fred just thought damn I am good! Although, nobody would know why he thought that until much later, until the surprises would start to unravel. After all, a grand ol' ball was the perfect occasion for romance, and pranks. All of which would be provided tonight.

They all headed to the Great Hall that was beautifully decorated, and as they passed a corridor on the left towards the Great Hall, Laura could have sworn she had seen a black dog in the castle. It probably her imagination, but then why did she feel like someone was following her. She turned around slightly, and caught a glimpse of a black tail swishing the corner. She wanted to go investigate, but Lee had said, " Ready? The doors are opening." So Laura just brushed it aside and went in. She caught Draco Malfoy's eyes as she went in, and he quickly looked away. She looked back to the spot were he was intently staring and saw it was Stephanie. Laura looked back at Malfoy to see what cruel trick he was planning, but oddly enough she saw something she had never see in a Malfoys' eyes before, she saw an inexplicable sadness as he watched Stephanie and Fred go inside the Great Hall together.

The gang sat down and ordered their food, when right before 9, George said that he had to go find his date because she sad she was coming a bit late, and excused himself. Lee and Laura chatted a bit, just talking about nothing and anything just like friends do, while Fred and Stephanie seemed on their own little cloud.

"ATTENTION ATTENTION EVERYONE, WITH THE HELP OF A LITTLE MISCHIEF AND A LITTLE CUNNINGNESS, I PRESENT A REAL BALL FOR YOU TONIGHT!"

Everyone looked around to see who was talking but, it seemed to be a voice coming from somewhere in the ceiling, sounding oddly like George's, and then all of a sudden, thousands of fairies drifted from the high windows, and started waltzing over the student's heads. It was the most beautiful event anyone had ever seen, for the fairies all were like little dancing lights. Laura looked up in amazement, and couldn't contain her merry laughter. It truly was a sight to see. The twins really were miracle workers. How they had pulled this off, no one could imagine.

Little did she know that as the fairy light illuminated her dazed face, great big yellow dog eyes were watching her from a doorway…

The music started and the couples started dancing after the Triwizard champions, and gradually Stephanie went with Fred, and after Lee danced the first couple of dances with Laura he went to find the girl he wanted to impress. Laura wondered back to the table, not really looking at anyone in particular when someone stopped her as she was trying to step off the dance floor.

" I sure hope you weren't leaving my lady, would you do me the honor of dancing with me Laura?"

Slowly, Laura looked up in large hopeful brown eyes. His hand was extended towards her, and he wore a smile full of anticipation, his eyes never left hers. Surprised, Laura flew around his neck in the biggest hug,

" Oliver! What are you doing here!" his arms went wrapped themselves around her waist, and he smelled in her hair. " Well, Fred told me there was a ball, and invited me to come along, as it is open to all former students too."

Ooh Fred I could just kiss you, thought Laura as she made her way back onto the dance floor with her greatest crush. She had liked him since 3rd year, and during his last year, he had tried to court her as well, but ever since he had left they hadn't had a chance to really see each other, but they just wrote letters back and forth, once in awhile…a couple times a month…ok ok…it was two letters a week.

He took her hand in his, and twirled her around the dance floor as if only they existed in the world, as a sad dog watched them.

Sirius POV:

This is wrong Sirius; you are here to look out for Harry not to check out his friends! What is that guy doing with his arm around her? I wonder if they are 'official'? Hmm…I can't believe I am getting jealous over her, I have only seen her once. Actually Sirius that's not true, you noticed her ever since last year. Yeah thanks a lot conscience! Wait wait, that guy she came in with just left her…good… wait, WHY WOULD YOU EVER LEAVE HER SIDE! STUPID DUMBASS DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW GOOD HE HAS IT! ...Ok that's rite, walk back to the table…I should really check on Harry ...oh well this is more fun… a man is approaching her! She looks like she loves him…that's rite Sirius, who could ever love an ex-murderer, just let it go…

Back to normal:

Laura and Oliver never left each other's eyes, not even when Fred put a spell on him and Stephanie to make them fly as they were dancing, or when he sang her "You're just to good to be true," the entire time, Laura and Oliver held the world in their hand. Never did Laura know that right around the corner was a grown man who loved her more than he himself yet knew. A man, the notorious Sirius Black, was slowly having his heart ripped out and trampled on the more he watched her graceful figure, a pain beyond pain only the crushed man knows. He never tore his eyes off of her, he never felt so much pain before, and he never knew he loved anyone like her before.