Chapter 8: Dangerous Illusions

December 25th was a beautiful day. The snow had piled on heavily outside, creating a lovely winter wonderland. The castle had been decorated with such splendor, but when we were all told to leave and get ready after dinner, the teachers hinted that there was still more magic to come.

Hermione and I got ready in our room, when I pulled out a bright red and gold box. It had been from my mother.

"What's in there?" Hermione asked. I shook my head.

"I'm not sure. I told my parents that I had been asked to the ball, the next letter I got came with this box. They told me there was a charm on the box so that I couldn't open it until the 25th." I explained.

"Well, go on open it!" she urged. I daintily lifted the lock of the box and gasped at what I saw inside it.

"My oh my!" Hermione exclaimed. A beautiful ruby necklace varnished in a gold chain hung beautifully on a velvet case. It was accompanied by two ruby studs and a lovely gold bracelet. A small note said, 'To my Ellie.' It wasn't signed but I knew it was from Dad. I lifted it and found beneath it more gifts. Mum wrote a letter saying that it was some make-up for me to wear. Not too much, she stressed. Wonderful shades of gold and brown and neutral colors were in it as well as a dark shade of red lipstick. I marveled at all of it.

"You're going to look splendid Eleanor." Hermione commented. I set them on my bed while I grabbed my dress from the small wardrobe in the room. The beautiful dark green silk felt soft in my hands. The gold shoes to go with it completed the outfit. Angela had commented on the green, saying that it could bring out my bluish-green eyes.

"Come on, we've only got an hour left." Hermione chided as she pulled out her gown from beside mine. It was a gorgeous color of pink, but the further down the dress you looked, the pink grew darker in color. It was layered nicely with ruffles and a simple waist ribbon. Hermione had curled her hair with the help of Angela's curling iron. I still didn't know how she managed to power it, but I wasn't one to complain. She had piled Hermione's curls high, with some lovely silver and pink flower pins. Angela twisted my hair into a lovely style, though I had know I idea what it was called. She let a few strands of hair fly loose and curled those. She said I looked like a princess.

"Hermione you never did tell me who you were going with." I said, eyeing her as I put on my make-up. She sighed.

"If I do, then you have to promise me that you won't laugh." She said. "Viktor Krum asked me." She muttered. I spun around.

"Viktor? Viktor Krum Viktor?" I exclaimed as Hermione slipped her dress on.

"Don't act so shocked Eleanor." She said, trying to zip up her dress. I went over and helped her.

"No, I'm not so shocked as I am impressed. Do you know how many girls follow that man around daily?" I asked. "All of those girls would kill to be in your shoes right now." I said tying her bow.

"Well, you're going with Cedric Diggory." She said in a dramatic voice.

"I know, I know." I chided. "Do you like him?" I asked as I slipped into my dress.

"I don't know. He doesn't talk much, for me to get to know him." She helped me with my zipper.

"Well," I said handing her the necklace to put on me. "You'll have all hours of the night to talk about yourselves." I said. I looked at the two of us in the floor length mirror. I turned to her.

"Let's make a vow." I said.

"A vow? Of what?" she asked.

"Tonight is the night of the Ball. We've been asked out by men way more older than us. Let's make a vow, to make it last as long as we can. To spend the entire evening with these two men who had the guts to ask out a couple of fourth years." She nodded.

"Ok. You start though." She said. I grabbed her hands, one on top of the other.

"We, Hermione Granger and Eleanor Phillips, do solemnly swear to enjoy this evening; as it is so rightfully ours to enjoy. We vow to make this fantasy a reality, making it last until the hours of morning rise."

"We vow." Hermione said.

"We vow." I finished. As soon as we said that, we both opened our eyes and fell onto my bed in a fit of laughs. This was going to be a night to remember.

By seven o'clock we were ready to go down. We sauntered down the front steps along with the other women of the school. Hermione went down to Viktor, hugging him as they greeted. I looked upon the faces of people who paired with their friends and lovers. My dress fell on the stairs as I walked; my hair softly brushed my shoulders as I descended. I turned my gaze towards my date. He was smartly dressed in a black tux with a yellow tie. His bronze hair was still roused and messy, but it suited him.

"My lady." He said taking my hand and kissing it. I curtsied to him and then wrapped my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my waist. I looked over his shoulder at Harry and Ron with their dates and they proceeded into the Great Hall.

"Ms. Phillips and Mr. Diggory, there you are!" Professor McGonagall said. "It's tradition that the champions have the first dance. We must get you into the Great Hall!" She said ushering us in. Cedric took my hand and we joined the crowd.

"Welcome everyone to the Yule Ball." Dumbledore announced. There was a light round of applause. "As tradition states, the first dance of the evening goes to the champions. If they could please step onto the dance floor." All of us separated from the crowd and they created a large circle around us. We stood in a row and bowed and curtsied to the headmasters. They in return curtsied and bowed to us. I briefly glanced down the rows and saw Hermione with Viktor and Fleur with a boy from Ravenclaw. I didn't know his name, but his blue tie gave him away. The boy looked absolutely enthralled by her.

"Champions, if you please." Dumbledore said then music started up, directed by Professor Flitwick. The orchestra music filled the winter wonderland ballroom. The culling was portraying falling snow, the chandeliers looked as if they had been dipped in ice, and there were snowflakes floating around everywhere, carved out of ice.

Cedric brought me back to reality when he took my hand in his. I placed mine on his shoulder, and he placed his on my waist. And then in fluid motion all of us began dancing together. Keeping in time to the music, Cedric knew how to dance. Even better than Harry, I'd say. He never had to look at our feet, and he took the reigns making sure that he led. He always had his eyes on me, and I couldn't stop looking at him.

"You're glowing." He commented. I began to feel my cheeks turn red. "Now you're blushing." I turned redder. "Am I embarrassing you?"

"No, not at all. I've just…never had someone complement me that way." I explained. He smiled.

"Well, only a blind person wouldn't be able to tell that you look absolutely radiant tonight." His flattery was very heartwarming.

"You really are too kind, Cedric." I commented.

"Well, I would hope so. No one likes a snobbish person." When he said that I immediately thought of Draco Malfoy. Oh, how that boy made my skin crawl with detest. I just smiled and we continued to talk as the music continued.

Soon, the classical music began to fade and Dumbledore announced that they had a special treat for us. A band called the Short Dwarfs came onto the stage and began playing. Everyone in the room seemed to go completely crazy for this band. I just enjoying being there with Cedric. I saw Hermione and Viktor having a wonderful time as he tried to get Hermione to dance to rock and roll music. And at times, I felt like someone was staring at me, watching my every move.

As the last few songs were played, the tempo of the music slowed down to a nice slow sway. I had my arms wrapped around Cedric's neck, when I looked around and saw Harry talking to Ron in a corner. This wasn't something odd, what was odd was that it looked like Ron was trying to get Harry to do something he didn't want to do. I looked up at Cedric.

"Do you mind if I catch some air? It's getting a little hot in here." I said.

"Sure, just don't run off on me." He said playfully. I let go of his neck and gently kissed him on the cheek.

"I won't." I assured him and turned back to the boys. I saw Harry take off towards the stairs, and Ron looked frustrated. I went up to him.

"Is Harry alright?" I asked. He turned to me.

"Why don't you go see for yourself?" he said, almost like he wanted me to ask Harry what was wrong. Before I could ask him anything more, he went off with Luna Lovegood. So, he had found a date. I took a moment and looked at her dress. It was very-pink. It looked like two boxes were stuck together and then holes were cut for the arms and legs. I turned my attention back to finding Harry.

I climbed the staircases and headed to the one place I knew I could find him. I gave the password to the Fat Lady and entered the Common Room. Just as I stepped through I saw someone swish past me. It was Cho Chang. Now I knew he was here. I saw him on the couch, looking into the fireplace. His red bow tie was untied, his elbows on his knees. He seemed to be staring off into the distance.

"Do you remember our first year? When we got sent to the Forbidden Forest?" He said not turning to look at me.

"Yes." I said sitting down beside him.

"He could have killed us, that night."

"But he didn't." I said.

"Four."

"Four what?" I asked.

"Four times; four instances where you could have died. The potions obstacle when we went after the Stone; when you were taken to the Chamber of Secrets; when the Dementors performed the Kiss on you; when you battled a dragon, and in a few weeks time you will face another life or death situation."

"What are you saying?" he sighed loudly.

"I'm saying, be careful. Death seems to follow you." I smirked.

"If I recall, you were there in every single one of those instances." He smiled lightly.

"Not this time. All I'll get to do is watch. I want you to know that I'm here for you. I want to help you in any way I can." I smiled at him and placed my hand on his, gently squeezing it.

"I bested a dragon, I think the worst is behind me." I said and then stood up to go. "By the way, why where you fighting with Ron?" I asked.

"Oh, it was nothing." He said. I nodded and went back to my date.

I quickly found Cedric standing by the dance floor engaged in a conversation with Viktor and Hermione. I slid my arm in his and he gently pulled me closer.

"That was a long break." He said casually.

"I found a few friends." I said.

"Lovely to chat with you." Cedric said and led us away from the couple. "Let's get away while the night is still young." He said and pulled me down some corridors.

Cedric and I ended up sitting by one of the windows in the halls. I was sitting on the sill, playing with Cedric's hands. They were so soft. I traced the contours of his hands, slowly dragging my finger across the lines in his hands.

"You know that the distinct lines represent your lover or lovers, and the lines off of those represent your children with them." I said slyly. He chuckled. I turned his hand over, tracing two long ones.

"What do those mean?" he asked, smiling.

"You have two lovers, finally blending to one. I don't see any small lines." I said.

"Maybe I won't have kids." He said laughing lightly. "Let's see your hands." He said taking mine. He turned mine over and looked at it, tracing the lines.

"You also have two lovers. But one is constant, and four small lines branch off from the longer one." I smiled.

"Four little children, how quaint." He softly leaned in to kiss me, the gentleness of his hands grabbed my waist. He pulled me down from the sill, setting me on the floor. My hands cupped around his face. But soon, his gentle and sweetness turned to aggressive passion. He took my waist and pushed me up against the brick wall. He took one hand and grabbed my hand and slammed it above my head, out of my control. My eyes darted open, looked at him; confused. His eyes looked like they were filled with rage, and something else looked and felt wrong. I suddenly realized that this had been a game. Why would a high class guy like Cedric go out with me? He wouldn't, at least not for real.

I tried to get my other hand free, but his hand shoved my hand behind my back and he pushed harder against me. He was powerful, stronger than I was. I could no longer move. I just waited, hoping that if I no longer moved he would let me go. But no. It only angered him that I was wasn't fighting back. So, he hit me in the gut. I winced and couldn't look at him. He raised his hand, as if to strike me again. But suddenly I heard running footsteps towards us. Their faces are forever etched in my mind.

The looked of horror and terror washed over them. Paul, Mark, Hermione, Angela, Ron, and Harry ran to my much needed aid. The men grabbed Cedric, pulling him off of me. Angela and Hermione immediately grabbed me and held me, turning me from the scene. The tears hadn't even come to my eyes. I heard punches from behind me.

"Mark!" Paul yelled. "We can't kill him. But I swear Diggory, if you ever lay a finger on my sister again, you're a dead man." Suddenly someone ran for him.

"No Harry!" Ron called, and I heard a scuffle. Angela and Hermione led me to the Common Room.

Everyone had fallen asleep, and it was way past eleven. Angela held me in her arms, Hermione held my hand and all the guys sat around. They waited for me to talk about what happened. But the tears still hadn't come.

"Eleanor?" Mark asked softly. He stroked my hair a little but I didn't respond. I just stared into the fireplace, watching the flames consume paper and wood; like how my heart had been consumed by Cedric and in the end, I had been burned alive.

Since I wasn't in a talking mood, the girls took me up to my dorm room. Paul had said that he was going to report what had happened to Dumbledore. That was the last thing I needed, more publicity. I subconsciously got dressed, brushed my hair, and went to bed; all without so much as a glance at Hermione.