Just Like Old Times

author's note : this chapter is dedicated to cocogirl198! Before I deleted all my stories, she would be reviewing! Here's to you!

disclaimer : i do not own harry potter. yet, some characters whom you may not recognize? that's mine!

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chapter four
fourth year, wanna go to the dance with me?

Attention All Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Year Students!

This coming Saturday, October 31st...Hogwarts will be holding a Halloween Costume Ball.

Students at these appropriate year will be needing to use a costume.

We will be awarding 100 points each to the two best dressed boy and girl!

The Ball will be until twelve o' clock.

Signed,

Professor MgGonagall

-x-

Natalie, Roxanne, and Arabella read the announcement and began to speak at once.

" Goodness, let's go to WWW! "

" No! I'll just owl my mom! "

" Let's do both! "

" Totally! "

The girls all went into the Gryffindor Common Room and sat infront of the fire. Still talking about the dance, the three boys joined their little chatting group.

" What's up? " James asked, sitting on the group across from Natalie.

The girls looked at him as if he was a muggle and shook their heads. Boys and their "funny" comments.

" Well, we're talking about the Halloween Costume Ball! It's going to be fantastic! " Arabella explained, clapping her hands.

It was the First Term of their fourth year at Hogwarts. The girls and boys have finally set their differences aside and started to become more friends. It was going pretty well. Well...kind of. They still had their ups-and-downs.

" What about that stupid ball? What a waste of galleons! " Dustin commented, as Roxanne shot him a glare.

" It's not a waste of money, Dustin! " she growled, refraining herself from jinxing Dustin into the next oblivion.

" Anyway, have you guys gotten dates? " Thomas questioned, inching towards Arabella.

Natalie made a face. " Well, I know Tommie will be trying to be with Bella, " she joked, as Arabella pinched her arm.

" OUCH! "

Everyone began to laugh, enjoying the warm fire.

" I know Talie is surely going with her boyfriend, " Arabella teased, making Natalie flushed.

James smirked and put an arm around her shoulders. " I knew you would come along, Nattie. " he cooed.

Natalie pried James's arm off of her shoulders and huffed.

" Not you, James. Jayden asked me to be his girlfriend, " she paused, blushing furiously, " And I said yes! "

There was silence.

Thomas's eyes were as big as dinner plates.

Dustin's mouth was hitting the floor.

Arabella's mouth didn't know how to close.

Roxanne couldn't stop twitching.

And James...James was mad.

Really mad. He was flushed, his knuckles turning white.

" You're going out with Jayden Mackkins! " he growled, his knuckles still white. Roxanne had to pat his shoulders to make him stop.

" Yes, yes I am. Since he actually asked me out properly! " Natalie stated, standing up and cleaning her skirt.

" Asked you out properly? I've been doing since our first year! I've been trying to get your attention for the last four damn years! " James shouted, making Natalie gasp.

" He has helped me James! He's been helping me since our second year! He knows what my favorite flower is! And he's noticed that I'm not just hot! " Natalie paused, catching her breath, " Jayden has been there for me, James! He's mature! That's what I want! " she finished, tears threatening to fall.

" Ha! Mature? Mature? Nat, he's got seven girlfriends! The git doesn't even know where the Transfiguration Classroom is! You obviously fell for an idiot! " James hissed.

Natalie's eyes were now full of tears. The whole Gryffindor Common Room was watching them, even the paintings.

" Fell for an idiot?! Just because he asked me nicely and romantically doesn't mean I fell for an idiot, Potter! He treats like a lady! He didn't ask me out in a daily basis, Potter! " Natalie poked James in the chest, " And just because he asked me to be his date days before the dance doesn't mean you have the right to tell me that my choice is particularly wrong! "

James started to back away from the sobbing girl, afraid she might jinx or hex him seriously.

" W-w-w-well, you just think you're so popular! Oh, Natalie! You scored that goal perfectly! or Oh Natalie! You're so smart! You think everyone adores you because you think your gorgeous and intelligent! Well, I know you are! But you just take it to the next level! " James snarled.

Natalie was hiccuping uncontrollably. She was also flushed with rage. Grabbing her wand, she raised it towards James and shrieked in a high-pitched voice,

" Furnunculus! "

And with that, James had to descend towards the hospital wing.

Those several days were horrible for Arabella, Roxanne, Dustin, and Thomas.

James Sirius Potter and Natalie Jane Wood would always be glaring or throwing daggers at each other.

But James had told Oliver Wood and Harry Potter their little "problem".

-x-

" Dad, Uncle! She's out of her mind! " James shouted into his two-way mirror.

Oliver Wood and Harry Potter's head were both "inside" the mirror, their faces showing pure annoyance.

" So you mean...my little Nattie is going out with Jayden Mackkins?! " Oliver's head screamed, shaking the head uncontrollably.

" Yes Uncle Ol'! She is! I was trying to tell her not to, but she gave me boils from head to toe! " James intercepted, shuddering at the memory. It was only two days ago. Thomas and Dustin, who were nearby, snickered silently.

" Ha! You kind of did deserved it, son! " Harry's head joked, laughing in the process. James glared at his father's head.

Then an idea hit him!

" I can sabotage their relationship! "

" Great! Now you sound like Uncle Ron with me and your mom's relationship! " Harry's head grinned.

" Shut up, Dad! I can just sabotage their relationship by going to WWW! "

" Nat and Jamie! Getting Marry! Nat and Jamie! Getting Marry! -- "

" I can ask Uncle George for some items! I mean he and Aunt Kim would sure help me! "

" Nat and Jamie! Getting Marry! Nat and Jamie! Getting Marry! -- " Harry and Oliver's head continued to chant.

James, Thomas, and Dustin all held annoyed faces.

Then suddenly, shoes hit both of Oliver's and Harry's head.

" You two! Go chant outside! We're trying to enjoy Muggle Drama! " Amber and Ginny both scolded.

Harry's and Oliver's head both had bumps and quickly left.

Leaving three devious and laughing teenage boys.

The day of the dance. The stupid Halloween Costume Ball.

The three girls were panicking, jumping everywhere in their dormitory.

The boys were the same. Except, minus the squealing.

As the three girls entered the Great Hall, all eyes were on them.

Natalie was dressed up as an angel, complete with her magical halo. Her white dress reached past her knees, and her white high heels seemed to have finished the dress. Her halo was bopping on top of her head, with she had animated. Her usual wavy hair was now straight and shiny.

Roxanne was dressed up as a princess. Her gold floor-length dress was adorned with ruffles and sequins. Her flaming red hair was in a quite messy bun, and a tiara was visible on top of her head. Her usual pink lips were now ruby red. Her usual smirk was replaced with a sweet smile.

Arabella was dressed up as a very cute fairy. Her dress was completely ruffly and was her favorite color, lime green. Her strawberry blond hair was in two short pigtails, which she probably bewitched to be small. Her shoes were beautiful green clear flats. She was holding a wand and had fairy wings.

Jayden approached Natalie, he being dressed up as a vampire. Quite awkward. They were two different costumes.

Thomas approached Arabella, who gladly accepted his hand. Dustin went with Roxanne.

James, on the other hand, was dateless. Since he had the perfect plan planned out. And also, he was dressed as a prince. Prince Charming, you may ask.

Girls approached him, questioning him for a dance or two. But he refused flatly. He wasn't in the mood for dancing with these...prats.

Jayden and Natalie danced, with slow and fast dances. Jayden wasn't really what you call...graceful. He would be stepping on Nat's toes while dancing, or maybe tripping.

" Attention all students! It's time to announce the best dressed couple! " Professor Slughorn's deep and playful voice boomed. That got everyone's attention.

" For the best dressed boy is, " Slughorn paused for effects, " James Potter! "

The Great Hall broke into applauses, and some cat-whistled. James went up to the stage and was rewarded with his crown.

" And now...The best dressed girl is, " Slughorn paused once again, " Natalie Wood! "

The Great Hall broke into a rage of clapping once again, as Natalie(confused) began to walk up the stage and received her tiara.

" Two Hundred points rewarded for Gryffindor! " and with that everyone cleared the center of the dance floor to let the King and Queen to dance.

" I am not dancing with this ignorant prat! " Natalie whispered harshly, as James led her to the dance floor.

" Well, you'll have to, Nattiekins, " James whispered softly in her ears, sending shivers up and down Natalie's back.

" Shut up! " she whispered, secretly enjoying the dance.

Soon, everyone joined in the slow dance song...the song, " I Don't Want To Miss A Thing ". The classic.

And the was the time Natalie realized she held feelings for a certain Potter.

Also, Jayden and Natalie are history. As if nothing happened.

Arabella and Thomas got together.

Yay!

And that was the beautiful Halloween Costume Ball.

And probably the best one!

There! I gave you a loonnnggg chapter! Please review!

Please, please, please, please!

Oh and the next chapter?

The gang is starting their fifth year! Yay! And the story really begins!

And a hint, two little prefects.

love,

ambiee.